Estimación de la edad gestacional mediante antropometría neonatal en una población residente a gran altitud

Background: Gestational age often predicts the prognosis of newborns and in certain cases guides the provision of specific care. However, in populations with a suboptimal prenatal approach, the use of conventional methods is not always possible. On the other hand, the main anthropometric indicator, weight, is lower due to chronic hypoxia; there is a need to evaluate the capacity of other anthropometric measures to estimate gestational age and thus improve the quality of care in this population. Objectives: To explore the ability to predict gestational age, using non-standard anthropometric measurements in a hospital located at 3250 meters above sea level (masl) in the Peruvian Andes. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from June to September 2024, including 242 newborns, using arm circumference (AC), thigh circumference (TC), and calf circumference (CC) as anthropometric measurements, using standardized techniques. Standard statistical methods were adopted to determine the critical limit, correlation coefficient, and estimation by regression analysis. The outcome indicator was the best regression model. Results: Anthropometric measurements showed a positive correlation with gestational age up to 37 weeks, after which it was lower. A positive correlation was found between the sum of the circumferences and gestational age for women and men of: AC+TC+CC (r=0.840), AC+TC+CC (r=0.868); and, the estimation of gestational age in weeks using the formulas: EG= 18.022 + (CM*0.885) + (CP*0902) or EG= 16.79 + (CM*0.894) + (CP*1.008) respectively. Conclusion: The gestational age of newborns born to mothers living at high altitude can be estimated using anthropometric measurements such as BC, CM, CP; the combination of CM and CP being the most effective. Therefore, it is suggested to use them when standard methods are not possible.