In:
Sri Lanka Anatomy Journal, Sri Lanka Journals Online, Vol. 1, No. 1 ( 2017-06-30), p. 6-15
Abstract:
Introduction: Accurate estimation of the body weight (BW) increases the safety and effectiveness of medical and pharmacological interventions. However, various situations make it difficult or even impossible to obtain a patient’s body weight. In those instances, the need for an alternate method of weight determination arises. Consequently, several studies have proposed obtaining BW through prediction formulas based on various anthropometric variables. Objective: Despite its’ potential practical utility, little is known concerning the relationship between head circumference (HC) and BW among the adult Sri Lankans. The goal of this study was to propose population and gender specific regression formula for BW estimation using HC. Material & method: Body weight and HC was recorded in a total of 156 cadavers: male: n=74; female: n=82. Subjects with any craniofacial deformities or neurological disorders were excluded from the study. Results: The mean BW (kg) (male: 53.78 ± 14.14; female: 47.91 ± 7.26) and HC (cm) (male: 54.09 ± 3.28; female: 52.88 ± 2.83) of the study subjects were found to be significantly different (P 〈 0.01) between the genders. Correlation coefficient between the BW and HC was statistically significant and positive in both males (0.745) and females (0.365) indicating a strong relationship between the two parameters. Linear regression formulae for the prediction of BW using the HC were derived as follows: male: 31.27 + 1.57 (HC); female: 53.09 + 1.91 (HC). Conclusion: Weight prediction equations that require a measuring tape as the only tool provides a practical alternative for the weight estimation of patients who are unable to walk due to various reasons. The use of anthropometric measurement such as HC is a simple, cost effective, non-invasive and objective method for BW prediction. Accurate prediction of a patient’s weight will in turn, reduce potential drug dosing errors that may occur when weight is estimated only by visual observation in emergency situations. Complementary studies are necessary to evaluate the applicability of these equations in other age groups too.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
2550-2832
DOI:
10.4038/slaj.v1i1.21
Language:
Unknown
Publisher:
Sri Lanka Journals Online
Publication Date:
2017
Permalink