title: Can self-reported height and weight be used among people living with HIV/AIDS?
abstract: To assess the reliability and validity of self-reported height and weight in adults living with HIV/AIDS (ALWHA) we assessed 508 ALWHA of both genders on antiretroviral therapy. Height and weight were directly measured in a subsample. Sensitivity and specificity analysis were performed to determine the validity of self-reported measures. Bland-Altman's method was used to calculate the limits of agreement between values while reliability was assessed using intraclass coefficients. Regression equations were devised to determine actual measures from self-reported values. Mean differences among measured and self-reported weight were -0.96 kg for men and -0.54 kg for women. Mean height differences were less than 2 cm, yielding good reliability for body mass index (BMI). Overweight (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m(2)) diagnosis sensitivity was 90.6% and specificity was 81.2%. Corrected measures determined by regression equations had stronger correlation with self-reported values (r > 0.980). Self-reported height and weight showed good reliability and validity compared with directly measured height and weight. However, measures should be corrected whenever possible to achieve higher accuracy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. anaduran@usp.br
authors.forename: A C F L
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Duran
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Florindo
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Jaime
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity