title: Bedside method to estimate actual body weight in the Emergency Department.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Actual body weight (ABW) is important for accurate drug dosing in emergency settings. Oftentimes, patients are unable to stand to be weighed accurately or clearly state their most recent weight.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Develop a bedside method to estimate ABW using simple anthropometric measurements.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, blinded, cross-sectional convenience sampling of adult Emergency Department (ED) patients. A multiple linear regression equation from Derivation Phase (n = 208: 121 males, 87 females) found abdominal and thigh circumferences (AC and TC) had the best fit and an inter-rater correlation of 0.99 and 0.96, respectively: Male ABW (kg) = -47.8 + 0.78 ∗ (AC) + 1.06 ∗ (TC); Female ABW = -40.2 + 0.47 ∗ (AC) + 1.30 ∗ (TC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Derivation phase: Number of patients (%) with a body weight estimation (BWE) > 10 kg from ABW for males/females were: 7 (6%)/1 (1%) for Patients, 46 (38%)/28 (32%) for Doctors, 38 (31%)/24 (27%) for Nurses, 75 (62%)/43 (49%) for 70 kg/60 kg convention, and 14 (12%)/8 (9%) using the anthropometric regression model. For validation phase (55 males, 44 females): Gold standard ABW mean (SD) male/female = 83.6 kg (14.3)/71.5 kg (18.9) vs. anthropometric regression model = 86.3 kg (14.7)/73.3 kg (15.1). R(2) = 0.89, p < 0.001. The number (%) for males/females with a BWE > 10 kg using the anthropometric regression model = 8 (15%)/11 (27%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For male patients, a regression model using supine thigh and abdominal circumference measurements seems to provide a useful and more accurate alternative to physician, nurse, or standard 70-kg male conventional estimates, but was less accurate for use in female patients.
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department, Naval Medical Center San Diego, San Diego, California 92134, USA.
authors.forename: Robert G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Buckley
authors.forename: Christine R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Stehman
authors.forename: Frank L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Dos Santos
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Riffenburgh
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Swenson
authors.forename: Nathan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mjos
authors.forename: Matt
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brewer
authors.forename: Sheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mulligan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001835:Body Weight; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006772:Hospitals, Military; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013848:Thigh / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D055105:Waist Circumference; D055815:Young Adult