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Development of New Demi‐Span Equations From a Nationally Representative Sample of Older People to Estimate Adult Height
Author(s) -
Hirani Vasant,
Aresu Maria
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2011.03832.x
Subject(s) - medicine , anthropometry , body mass index , arm span , gerontology , cross sectional study , demography , orthodontics , pathology , sociology
Objectives To develop new equations for the calculation of body mass index ( BMI ) of adults aged 65 and older for when an actual height measurement may not be possible or reflect attained height because of loss of height with aging or conditions such as kyphosis or osteoporosis. Design Cross‐sectional, nationally representative samples; data from 1994, 2000 2005, and 2007. Setting Adults aged 65 and older living in E ngland. Participants Two thousand four hundred fifty‐four noninstitutitionalized adults aged 65 and older taking part in the Health Survey for E ngland ( HSE ). Measurements Height and demi‐span measurements (defined as the distance between the mid‐point of the sternal notch and the finger roots with the arm outstretched laterally) were taken according to standard procedures. Results Sex‐ and age‐specific regression equations were produced from measured height and demi‐span (DEH) using HSE 2005 data to develop new DEH equations ( DEH age ) from people aged 65 and older. The derived DEH age equation was applied to the HSE data for 1994, 2000, and 2007 to attempt to test its reliability. Analysis showed that DEH age predicts current height better than when using the Bassey equation ( DEH B assey ). DEH age can be used instead of a height measurement to derive other anthropometric indices such as body mass index ( BMI ) in older people. Conclusion The new equations developed for predicting current height in older people can be used to calculate BMI more accurately in older people.