BODY MASS INDEX AND HEAD CIRCUMFERENCE AS PREDICTORS OF DEVELOPMENTAL QUOTIENT IN CHILDREN WITH DOWN SYNDROME: A STUDY ON EASTERN UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA

Abstract

Background: Children with Down syndrome exhibit significant variation in their developmental results. Although anthropometric measures like head circumference and body mass index (BMI) are commonly regarded as indications of neurodevelopment and physical growth, it is yet unknown how these measures affect the developmental functioning of children with Down syndrome.

Objective: The present study aimed to examine whether body mass index and head circumference predict developmental quotient (DQ) in children with Down syndrome.

Method: We used a cross-sectional correlational design. The study included 55 children with Down syndrome were used to measure developmental quotient. Standard clinical techniques were used to record anthropometric factors such as head circumference and body mass index. The predictive role of head circumference and BMI to developmental quotient was examined using hierarchical regression analysis with age and gender held constant.

Results: The study comprised 55 children from a semi-rural population with Down syndrome, aged 5 to 10 years. Age and developmental quotient (DQ) were shown to be significantly positively correlated (r = 0.369, p = 0.003). A significant negative association was found between gender and DQ (r = -0.299, p = 0.013). Additionally, age and gender (r = -0.337, p = 0.006) and age and BMI (r = 0.369, p = 0.003) showed significant correlations. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that age, gender, BMI, and head circumference did not significantly predict developmental quotient. Model 1 explained 0.5% of variance in DQ (R² = 0.005, p = 0.888), while 5.7% of the variance (R² = 0.057, p = 0.259) was explained by Model 2.

Conclusion: The results imply that the predictors demonstrated limited independent contribution toward developmental outcomes in the study population. Anthropometric measures by themselves may not be very useful in predicting how well children with Down syndrome would develop. More general neurobiological, environmental, psychological, and intervention-related factors probably have an impact on developmental outcomes in Down syndrome.