Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42169199›Full record

ArticleBMC nutrition2026

Association between mid-upper arm circumference and weight for height with long-term survival in South Kivu, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo: Lwiro cohort.

Gaylord Ngaboyeka, Pacifique Mwene-Batu, Jean Claude Zaluka, Armand Mulume, Didier Lwashiga, Lembebu Corneille, Emmanuel Ongezi, Christine Chimanuka, Joelle Mwalungwe, Richard Kambale and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC nutrition, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Gaylord NgaboyekaRegional School of Public Health, Catholic University of Bukavu, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo. amaningaboyekagaylord@gmail.com.
Pacifique Mwene-BatuRegional School of Public Health, Catholic University of Bukavu, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Jean Claude ZalukaRegional School of Public Health, Catholic University of Bukavu, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Armand MulumeRegional School of Public Health, Catholic University of Bukavu, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Didier LwashigaRegional School of Public Health, Catholic University of Bukavu, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Lembebu CorneilleRegional School of Public Health, Catholic University of Bukavu, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Emmanuel OngeziRegional School of Public Health, Catholic University of Bukavu, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Christine ChimanukaRegional School of Public Health, Catholic University of Bukavu, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Joelle MwalungweRegional School of Public Health, Catholic University of Bukavu, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Richard KambaleBukavu Provincial General Reference Hospital, Catholic University of Bukavu, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Michèle DramaixSchool of Public Health, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
Ghislain BisimwaRegional School of Public Health, Catholic University of Bukavu, Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Philippe DonnenSchool of Public Health, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionLittle information is available on the relationship between mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) and weight-for-height Z-score (WHZ) with long-term survival. This study explores the association between MUAC and WHZ of former children hospitalized for severe acute malnutrition (SAM) with their long-term survival after nutritional rehabilitation.

methodsThis was a cohort of adults followed in childhood for SAM between 1988 and 2007 at the Lwiro Pediatric Hospital (HPL) and traced 11 to 30 years after their nutritional rehabilitation in South Kivu, DRC. Childhood data included anthropometry, clinical characteristics, and nutritional edema. Anthropometric indicators (WHZ, MUAC, HAZ, and WAZ) were classified according to WHO thresholds. The dependent variable was long-term survival. Associations between admission WHZ, MUAC, and survival were assessed using Cox regression, with indicators analyzed separately and in combination. Reference groups were defined based on WHO thresholds (MUAC ≥ 125 mm, WHZ ≥ -2, and, for combined analyses, absence of both WHZ < -3 and MUAC < 115 mm).

resultsWe sampled 670 participants, 461 of whom were traced to adulthood, of whom 12.2% had died. The median age of living participants was 26 years, with a mean age at admission of 32 months during childhood. Among them, 71.1% had nutritional edema, 88.5% had stunting, 14.5% had WHZ < -3, and 22.3% had MUAC < 115 mm. Children with MUAC < 115 mm or WHZ < -3 had a higher, although non-significant, risk of long-term death compared to those without SAM as defined by these criteria. In univariate analyses, children with edema, including those with concurrent anthropometric deficits, showed an increased but non-significant risk of mortality. After adjustment for multiple factors, only WHZ < -3, when analyzed independently, was significantly associated with long-term mortality [adjusted HR (95% CI) = 2.7 (1.1-6.8), p = 0.03].

conclusionWHZ < -3 was associated with increased long-term mortality. These findings highlight the need to strengthen post-discharge follow-up and long-term care strategies to improve survival in this high-risk group.

Indexed as

DRCLong-term mortality South KivuMUACSevere acute malnutritionWHZ

Identifiers

PMID42169199
PMCPMC13366858

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.