Relationship between arm span and stature in Malawian adults

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess the relationship between height and arm span in adult Malawians. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 142 males and 128 females between the ages 20 and 76 years were recruited from among the patients attending various clinics at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi. All subjects were free from physical deformities. The anthropometric measurements included standing height and arm span. RESULTS: The arm span exceeded height in all age groups of males and females. The mean difference between the height and arm span values for females was 9.9 +/- 4.9 cm (t = 16.28, p<0.001) and for males was 11.6 +/- 4.4 cm (t = 14.74, p<0.001). The gender difference between height and arm span measurements was statistically significant (t = 9.58, p<0.001 and t = 10.24, p<0.001, respectively). Correlation of arm span and height for males was 0.871 and for females was 0.815. Prediction equations were derived from regression analysis. RSD values were 8.709 and 6.914 for equations for males and females, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Stature of Malawian adults can be estimated from arm span measurements using regression equations.