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

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.