A Comparison of Three Age-based Formulae of Estimating Weight in Nigerian Children

Ilori Iniabasi Udoh^1, and Ikobah Joanah Moses²

¹Department of Anaesthesiology, University of Calabar / University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria

²Department of Paediatrics, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria

Cite this paper:
Ilori Iniabasi Udoh and Ikobah Joanah Moses. A Comparison of Three Age-based Formulae of Estimating Weight in Nigerian Children. American Journal of Medical Sciences and Medicine. 2015; 3(2):24-27. doi: 10.12691/ajmsm-3-2-4

Abstract

In children drug doses, fluid therapy and other treatment modalities are calculated on the basis of weight. In some clinical situations weight measurement becomes impracticable and estimation has to be made. The aim of the study was to compare the accuracy of the Advance Paediatric Life Support(APLS), Luscombe and Argall formulae in estimating the weight of children in developing environment of Southern Nigerian. Children who fulfilled the inclusion criteria in the Children Outpatient Clinic of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar were recruited into the study. The weights of these children were measured using standard procedure. These were then compared with the values obtained by the Advanced Paediatric Life Support, Luscombe and Argall formulae. One hundred and fourteen (114) children (63 males and 51 females) were recruited. There was no significant difference between the sexes in regards to their mean age, measured weight and estimated weights differences. The APLS formula under estimated the weights while Luscombe and Argall formulae overestimated the weights. However the mean percentage difference between the measured weight was least with the Argall formula in children above five years while children one to five years had the least mean percentage weight difference with APLS formula. Conclusion The APLS formula significantly underestimated the weight in children above five years while Luscombe formula significantly overestimated the weights in all age groups. The Argall formula minimally overestimated the weight in all the age groups but had the least mean weight difference in children above five years. In our environment, the APLS formula might be more accurate for weight estimation in children 1-5 years and Argall formula for 6-14 years.

Keywords:
age based; weight estimation; developing environment.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

References:

[1]	Argall JAW, Wright N, Mackway-Jones K, Jackson R. A comparison of two commonly used methods of weight estimation. Arch Dis Child, 88:789-790, 2003.
[2]	Luscombe MD, Owens BD, Burke D. Weight estimation in paediatrics: a comparison of the APLS formula and the formula ‘Weight =3(age)+7’ Emerg Med J 28:590- 593, 2011.
[3]	Kelly A, Nguyen K, Krieser D. Validation of the Luscombe weight formula for estimating children’s weight. Emergency Medicine Australasia, 23: 59-62, 2011.
[4]	Abdel-Rahman SM, Ridge AL. An improved pediatric weight estimation strategy. The Open Medical Devices Journal, 4: 87-97, 2012.
[5]	APLS 5e: FAQ: Weight Estimation. APLS Update 2013; University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire.
[6]	Luscombe M, Owens B. Weight estimation in resuscitation: is the current formula still valid? Arch Dis Child, 92:412-415. 2007.
[7]	Lubitz DS, Seidel JS, Chameides L, Luten RC, Zaritsky AL, Campbell FW. A rapid method for estimating drug dosages from length in the pediatric age group. Ann Emerg Med, 17:576-81, 1988.
[8]	Leffler S, Hayes M. Analysis of Parental Estimates of Children's Weights in the ED. Annals of Emergency Medicine, 30(2): 167-170.1997.
[9]	Partridge RL, Abramo TJ, Haggarty KA, , Hearn R, Sutton KL, An AQ. Analysis of parental and nurse weight estimates of children in the pediatric emergency department. Pediatr Emerg Care. 25(12):816-8.2009.
[10]	Ali K, Sammy I, Nunes P. Is the APLS formula used to calculate weight-for-age applicable to a Trinidadian population? BMC Emergency Medicine, 12:9.2012. http//www.biomedcentral/1471-227X/12/9.
[11]	Parka J, Kwakb YH, Kimb DK, Jungb JY, Leec JH, Jangd HY et al. A new age-based formula for estimating weight of Korean children. Resuscitation, 83(9): 1129-1134. 2012.
[12]	House DR, Ngetich E , Vreeman RC, Rusyniak DE. Estimating the Weight of Children in Kenya: Do the Broselow Tape and Age-Based Formulas Measure Up? Ann Emerg Med., 61:1-8. 2013.
[13]	Senbanjo IO, Adeodu OO, Adejuyigbe EA Influence of socio-economic factors on nutritional status of children in a rural community of Osun State, Nigeria available at www.uib.es/congres/ecopub/ecineq/papers/235senbanjo.
[14]	Nguyen K, Krieser D, Kerr D, Jolly D, Clooney M, Kelly A. Failed Validation of the Argall Weight Formula for Estimating Children’s Weight in an Australian Emergency Department. Academic Emergency Medicine. 14(5): 486-488, 2008.
[15]	Geduld H, Hodkinson, PW, Wallis, LA “Validation of weight estimation by age and length based methods in the Western Cape, South Africa population,” Emergency Medicine Journal, 28: 856–860. 2010.
[16]	Loo,PY, Chong SL, Lek, N Bautista D., Ng KC. Evaluation of three paediatric weght estimation methods in Singapore. Journal of Paediatric Child Health, 49(4)E 311-316. 2013.
[17]	Seddon C, Lockitt L,Eisenhut M. Validation of Advanced Paediatric Life Support formulas for weight calculation in a multiethinic population. International Scholarly Research Network(ISRN) paediatrics.
[18]	Anderson, M. Under-estimation potentially better than overestimation. Arch.Dis. Childhood, 92: 937-939.2007.