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Table 1 Estimation of the possible number of deaths from SAM that would be missed using a MUAC only program

From: Severely malnourished children with a low weight-for-height have a higher mortality than those with a low mid-upper-arm-circumference: III. Effect of case-load on malnutrition related mortality– policy implications

 

WHZ deaths

Total deaths

WHZ only (S-whz)

MUAC only (S-muac)

Both criteria (S-both)

MUAC-only %missed

WHZ-only %missed

Global

540,000a

817,000

309,000

277,000

231,000

37.8

33.9

India

270, 000b

309,000

155,000

39,000

115,000

50.2

12.6

  1. The estimates of total deaths and proportions were derived as in methods. WHZ deaths deaths estimated by WHZ < −3Z (i.e. S-whz + S-both); Total deaths WHZ deaths plus MUAC-only deaths based on ratios found in reference [12] for Global and India (S-both = 16.5 and 22.9%). Equal mortality risk for S-whz < −3Z and S-muac < 115 mm and twice the mortality risk for S-both is assumed. a Data from reference [1]; b Data from reference [29]