The accuracy of visual estimation of body weight in the ED

Anglemyer, Bradley; Hernandez, Chris; Brice, Jane H.; Zou, Bin

doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2004.09.002

Cited by 75 publications

(71 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…This prospective, blinded, multiphase study confirmed previous findings that a patient's stated weight is superior to physician or nurse bedside estimates (2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8). When a patient cannot be relied on to accurately recall or relay their weight, a bedside method to estimate ABW using the abdominal and thigh circumferences seems to be a reliable means to obtain this information and, in the case of male patients, seems to be superior to physician or nurse estimates or simply relying on the standard 70-kg male, 60-kg female conventional estimate.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 73%

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Bedside Method to Estimate Actual Body Weight in the Emergency Department

Buckley¹,

Stehman²,

Santos³

et al. 2012

The Journal of Emergency Medicine

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, 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) = À47.8 + 0.78 * (AC) + 1.06 * (TC); Female ABW = À40.2 + 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. Ó 2011 Elsevier Inc.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 73%

“…Several studies have questioned the ability of medical staff to estimate a patient's weight at the bedside (2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8). Oftentimes, physicians and nurses simply rely on their "best guess" estimate or assign a conventional weight of 70 kg for a male or 60 kg for a female (9).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bedside Method to Estimate Actual Body Weight in the Emergency Department

Buckley¹,

Stehman²,

Santos³

et al. 2012

The Journal of Emergency Medicine

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“…Multiple studies have demonstrated that ED health care providers cannot accurately or reliably predict actual body weight, and that the best bedside method to estimate a patient's actual body weight is to simply ask the patient (5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10). In a small sample of intensive care unit patients, Bloomfield et al found that 18 of 20 bedside estimates were within 15% of true height and the majority were within 10% (11).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bedside Estimation of Patient Height for Calculating Ideal Body Weight in the Emergency Department

Stehman

Buckley

Santos³

et al. 2011

The Journal of Emergency Medicine

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e Abstract-Background: Ideal body weight (IBW), which can be calculated using the variables of true height and sex, is important for drug dosing and ventilator settings. True height often cannot be measured in the emergency department (ED). Objectives: Determine the most accurate method to estimate IBW using true height-based IBW that uses true height estimated by providers or patients compared to true height estimated by a regression formula using measured tibial length, and compare all to the con-

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“…[9,10] Our study results were in accord with other trials in that stated weights (by the patient or caregiver) were more accurate than weights estimated by ED staff. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] Our data also reveal some interesting detail about the factors associated with weight estimation inaccuracies. Our data show that heavier, taller, or English speaking patients are more likely to be under-dosed, and that patients with a lower actual body weight and older patients are more likely to receive an over-dose.…”

Section: )mentioning

confidence: 84%

“…Weight estimations by ED staff, however, are often inaccurate and these errors are more pronounced in patients who are underweight or obese. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] Because many medications are dosed based on actual (and not ideal) body weight, overestimation and underestimation of body weight constitute an important source of medication errors that result in adverse medication events and ineffectiveness, respectively.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enoxaparin dosing errors in the emergency department

Jellinek-Cohen

Husk

2018

World Journal of Emergency Medicine

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BACKGROUND:The study aimed to determine the frequency of enoxaparin dosing errors for patients who had a measured emergency department (ED) weight compared to those who did not have a measured ED weight, and to determine if demographic variables (e.g., weight, height, age, Englishspeaking, race) impact the likelihood of receiving an inappropriate dose.METHODS: This is a retrospective, electronic chart review of patients who received a dose of enoxaparin in the ED between January 1, 2008 and July 1, 2013. We identifi ed all patients >18 years who received a dose of enoxaparin while in the ED, were admitted, and had at least one inpatient weight within the fi rst four days of hospitalization. Patients were excluded if they received enoxaparin for prophylaxis or a dose of more than 1.25 mg/kg. RESULTS:A total of 1,944 patients were included. Patients were more likely to experience an error if they did not have a measured ED weight. Over-doses of >10 mg were more likely to occur in patients without a measured ED weight. Patients with no documented ED weight or with a staffestimated ED weight were more likely to experience a dosing error than those with a patient-stated weight. Patients were more likely to experience an error if their fi rst inpatient weight was more than 96 kg, they were more than 175-cm tall, or were English speaking.CONCLUSION: Dosing errors are more likely to occur when patients are not weighed in the ED. Modifications to current workflows to incorporate weighing those patients who receive weightdosed medications may be warranted.

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The accuracy of visual estimation of body weight in the ED

Cited by 75 publications

References 15 publications

Bedside Method to Estimate Actual Body Weight in the Emergency Department

Bedside Method to Estimate Actual Body Weight in the Emergency Department

Bedside Estimation of Patient Height for Calculating Ideal Body Weight in the Emergency Department

Enoxaparin dosing errors in the emergency department

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