Validity of self-reported height and weight estimates in cognitively-intact and impaired elderly individuals.
OBJECTIVE
A high prevalence of undernutrition has been observed in the elderly, particularly in cognitively impaired or demented individuals. Self-reported height and weight were tested as simple and non-invasive methods to efficiently screen individuals at risk.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
A subset of subjects (n=465) participating in the longitudinal follow-up phase of the Canadian Study of Health and Aging (CSHA) and comprising cognitively intact and impaired individuals as well as demented subjects.


METHODS
Self-reported values of height and weight were compared to direct standard measurements using Pearson's correlation coefficients and linear regressions by cognitive status. Estimation bias was determined using paired Student t-tests. Sensitivity and specificity of body mass index (BMI) derived from self-reported data were calculated.


RESULTS
Self-reported and measured weights were highly correlated (r>.90) in all three categories of cognitive status. A tendency to underestimate their weight was observed in overweight women. Correlations of recalled to measured height were excellent in normal (r=.91) and good in cognitively impaired (r=.86) and demented (r=.85) subjects. A systematic overestimation of recalled height was observed, particularly among individuals of short stature. Self-reported BMI showed excellent sensitivity (>93%) in detecting underweight individuals in all three categories.


CONCLUSIONS
Self-reported height and weight data can be obtained in normal and cognitively-impaired elderly persons as well as in mild or moderate cases of dementia and can be used as a valid tool to screen for risk of undernutrition.
Payette
H
H
Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Sherbrooke, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Sherbrooke, 840 Papineau Street, Sherbrooke (Qc), Canada, J1E 1Z2. hpayette@courrier.usherb.ca
Kergoat
M J
MJ
Shatenstein
B
B
Boutier
V
V
Nadon
S
S
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity