Validation of the Luscombe weight formula for estimating children's weight.
OBJECTIVE
Several paediatric weight estimation methods have been described for use when direct weight measurement is not possible. A new age-based weight estimation method has recently been proposed. The Luscombe formula, applicable to children aged 1-10 years, is calculated as (3 × age in years) + 7. Our objective was to externally validate this formula using an existing database.


METHODS
Secondary analysis of a prospective observational cohort study. Data collected included height, age, ethnicity and measured weight. The outcome of interest was agreement between estimated weight using the Luscombe formula and measured weight. Secondary outcome was comparison with performance of Argall, APLS and Best Guess formulae. Accuracy of weight estimation methods was compared using mean difference (bias), 95% limits of agreement, root mean square error and proportion with agreement within 10%.


RESULTS
Four hundred and ten children were studied. Median age was 4 years; 54.4% were boys. Mean body mass index was 17 kg/m(2) and mean measured weight was 21.2 kg. The Luscombe formula had a mean difference of 0.66 kg (95% limits of agreement -9.9 to +11.3 kg; root mean square error of 5.44 kg). 45.4% of estimates were within 10% of measured weight. The Best Guess and Luscombe formulae performed better than Argall or APLS formulae.


CONCLUSIONS
The Luscombe formula is among the more accurate age-based weight estimation formulae. When more accurate methods (e.g. parental estimation or the Broselow tape) are not available, it is an acceptable option for estimating children's weight.
Joseph Epstein Centre for Emergency Medicine Research at Western Health, Sunshine Hospital, 167 Furlong Road, Melbourne, VIC 3021, Australia. anne-maree.kelly@wh.org.au
Anne-Maree
AM
Kelly
Kevin
K
Nguyen
David
D
Krieser
D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods*; D001315:Australia; D001827:Body Height / Q000208:ethnology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000208:ethnology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D010372:Pediatrics; D011446:Prospective Studies; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013223:Statistics as Topic / Q000379:methods*