Validation of three age based weight formulae for estimating weight among Indian children
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20230933Keywords:
Age-based weight estimation, Paediatric emergency, APLS, Argall, LuscombeAbstract
Background: Weight estimation in paediatric emergencies is often required to calculate drug dosages, fluid therapy and defibrillation. The ‘gold standard’ of actually weighing the patient is not practically possible in emergency conditions. Many formulae have been developed in an attempt to accurately estimate a child’s weight using age like advanced paediatric life support (APLS), Luscombe, and Argall’s modification. However, these formulae might not be applicable in the Indian context. This study aims is to validate standard age-based formulae (APLS, Luscombe, and Argall’s) and their accuracy in estimating the weight of Indian children.
Methods: The study used secondary data from the fourth round of the National Family Health Survey (2015-16). The estimated weights as computed by the APLS guidelines, the Luscombe and the Argall formulae were compared to their respective measured weights during the survey.
Results: All three formulae (APLS, Luscombe, and Argall) overestimated the weights. The APLS formula exhibited the least weight difference among the different age groups (-3.51±2.08 kg). The average percentage difference between the estimated weights using the APLS, Luscombe, and Argall formula and the actual weights was 23%, 38%, and 28%, respectively.
Conclusions: All the three age-based weight formulae, namely APLS, Argyll, and Luscombe, overestimated the weight among the Indian children, clearly showing the need to adjust the formulae for accurate weight estimation of Indian children.
References
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. 2011;28(7):590-3.
Shah AN, Frush K, Luo X, Wears RL. Effect of an intervention standardization system on pediatric dosing and equipment size determination: A crossover trial involving simulated resuscitation events. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2003;23:32-8.
Blackwell JO. Structured approach to emergency paediatrics. In: Advanced paediatric life support the practical approach. 5th edn. Netherlands: Elsevier; 2011:14-8.
Luscombe M, Owens B. Weight estimation in resuscitation: Is the current formula still valid? Arch Dis Child. 2007.
Argall JAW, Wright N, Mackway-Jones K, Jackson R. A comparison of two commonly used methods of weight estimation. Arch Dis Child. 2003;88(9):789-90.
National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5). Available at: http://rchiips.org/nfhs/factsheet_NFHS-5.shtml. Accessed on 20 November 2020.
National nutrition monitoring bureau (NNMB) Technical Report No. 25. Available at: https://ghdx.healthdata.org/organizations/national-nutrition-monitoring-bureau-india. Accessed on 20 November 2022.
Rapid survey on children (RSOC) 2013-14 National Report. Available at: http://wcd.nic.in/issnip/ National_Fact sheet_RSOC _02-07-2015.pdf. Accessed on 20 November 2022.
NFHS -4 Research Collaborators. National Family Health Survey-4 (2015-16). Available at: https://ruralindiaonline.org/en/library/resource/national-family-health-survey-nfhs-4-2015-16-India. Accessd on 20 November 2022.
Varghese A, Vasudevan VK, Lewin S, Indumathi CK, Dinakar C, Subba Rao SD. Do the Length-based (Broselow) Tape, APLS, Argall and Nelson’s Formulae Accurately Estimate Weight of Indian Children? Indian Pediatr. 2006.
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. 2011;23:32-9.
Park J, Kwak YH, Kim DK, Jung JY, Lee JH, Jang HY, et al. A new age-based formula for estimating weight of Korean children. Resuscitation. 2012;32:210-2.
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. 2013;32:23-9.
Geduld H, Hodkinson PW, Wallis L a. Validation of weight estimation by age and length based methods in the Western Cape, South Africa population. Emerg Med J. 2011;15:32-8.
Kelly AM, Nguyen K, Krieser D. Validation of the Luscombe weight formula for estimating children’s weight. Emerg Med Australas. 2011;5:32-9.
Argall JAW, Wright N, Mackway-Jones K, Jackson R. A comparison of two commonly used methods of weight estimation. Arch Dis Child. 2003;21:105-9.
