Visual estimation of biological age of elderly subjects: good interrater agreement.
BACKGROUND
Visual estimation of age can be used as a measure of biological age (BA) and has become useful in predicting life expectancy.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to quantify the interrater agreement of experienced geriatricians in visual estimation of BA.


METHODS
In a prospective controlled study, 4 experienced geriatricians estimated the BA of 43 elderly subjects (mean age 82.5 +/- 6.0 years) during a short standardized interview, using a checklist of age-associated changes in appearance, communication and mobility. Interrater agreement was calculated by analysis of variance and expressed as the intra-class coefficient of correlation (ICCC).


RESULTS
The ICCC of the BA estimation was 0.76 (p < 0.001). Within-subject standard deviation of the estimate was 3. 4 years. On average, BA was 4.8 (+/-4.4) years lower than chronological age (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Visual estimation of BA based on a simple checklist has a good interrater agreement and therefore should be part of geriatric assessment.
Olde Rikkert
M G
MG
Department of Geriatric Medicine, University Hospital Nijmegen St Radboud, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. M.Olde-Rikkert@czzoger.azn.nl
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D005260:Female; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008297:Male; D015588:Observer Variation; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*