Quantifying Human Growth Using Quantile Regression Percentiles for Body Surface Area (BSA): A Case Study of Pakistan

Title : Quantifying Human Growth Using Quantile Regression Percentiles for Body Surface Area (BSA): A Case Study of Pakistan

Abstract:

Establishing growth charts is one of the most important steps in establishing normal development standards and identifying possible patterns in human growth. The purpose of this study is to examine how well body surface area (BSA) and quantile regression (QR) percentiles perform in a Pakistani population. Using a dataset of 9906 adult Pakistani citizens from Multan and Bahawalpur, we established BSA growth charts by plotting QR percentiles versus age. The mean BSA is 0.00709±0.00003 (standard deviation). The 85th to 95th percentiles of the QR percentiles showed a diminishing trend in the age range of 5- to 25-year, followed by strong increases in the 25- to 40-year age range and a subsequent decline up to 55-year. BSA rises throughout early adulthood, stabilizes in the Middle Ages, and then declines in old age. The study’s conclusions have a big impact on how growth percentile curves are made for different physiological and pathological conditions. It is possible to create more precise continuous BSA QR percentile curves versus specified ages. Building growth reference curves for the majority of physiological and medical issues affecting children and adolescents may be accomplished using this study. With these curves at their disposal, practitioners will be better equipped to identify deviations from the typical development pattern and comprehend normal growth patterns. The findings of this study emphasize how crucial it is to use QR percentiles when creating BSA growth charts in Pakistani communities. This helps to create growth charts that are more precise and trustworthy for Pakistani children.

Keywords: Human Growth, Obesity; Body Surface Area; Anthropometric Measures; Quantile Regression Percentiles; Growth Charts.

Biography:

Dr. Waqas Ghulam Hussain, a Lecturer in Statistics at Govt. Associate College (Boys), Tiba Sultanpur, Tehsil Mailsi, District Vehari, Pakistan. I hold a Ph.D. in Statistics from The Islamia University Bahawalpur, he was awarded in 2024 with a CGPA of 3.88 out of 4.00. Prior to that, he earned  M.Phil. in Statistics from Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, in 2018, where he was honored as a Silver Medalist with a CGPA of 3.76. I also completed my B.S. in Statistics from the same university in 2016, graduating as a Gold Medalist with a CGPA of 3.91.

Waqas Ghulam Hussain have extensive research experience, with numerous publications focusing on topics such as quantile regression, growth charts, anthropometric measurements, and statistical modeling related to human health and development. his work has been published in reputable journals including Sage Journals, Juniper Publishers, and others. Currently, he serve as a reviewer and editorial board member for several international journals, including the Journal of Medical Internet Research (Canada), Baishideng Publishing Group (USA), and Science Publishing Group (USA).

His professional experience includes teaching at various colleges and taking on administrative roles such as Assistant Director in the Higher Education Department of South Punjab. he have participated in numerous capacity-building trainings and international webinars to enhance my expertise in statistical analysis, healthcare research, and academic leadership. He is proficient in statistical software such as R, SPSS, Stata, Minitab, and Eviews, and he also have skills in programming languages like Python. He is fluent in English, Urdu, Punjabi, and Saraiki. Waqas Ghulam Hussain dedication to research and teaching reflects his strong commitment to advancing knowledge in biostatistics, human growth analysis, and related fields.