Agreement between paramedic-estimated weights and subsequent hospital measurements in adults with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the accuracy of paramedic estimates of adult body weights in cardiac arrest cases.


OBJECTIVE
Paramedics could accurately estimate the weights of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients.


METHODS
Retrospective data analysis of a 15-month, multicenter study involving nontraumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients. Paramedic estimates of body weights were compared to weights measured in the hospital. Patients were included in the analysis only if both a paramedic weight and a measured in-hospital weight were recorded.


METHODS
Six urban emergency medical services systems.


METHODS
The study population included adults with return of spontaneous circulation who subsequently were admitted to the hospital.


METHODS
Pearson correlation analysis of paramedic-estimated weights and measured weights.


RESULTS
Among the 133 study patients, the correlation coefficient (R) for paramedic estimates and the actual measured weight was 0.93. Paramedic estimates of weight were within 10% of the measured weights in 74% of the patients, and within 20% of measured weights in 93% of the patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Paramedic weight estimates correlated well with measured weights.
Martin
D R
DR
Department of Emergency Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus 43210, USA.
Soria
D M
DM
Brown
C G
CG
Pepe
P E
PE
Gonzalez
E
E
Jastremski
M
M
Stueven
H
H
Cummins
R O
RO
D000328:Adult; D015982:Bias; D001835:Body Weight; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000592:standards*; D004634:Emergency Medical Technicians; D005260:Female; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies