Equation of height estimation from knee height: Performance in the composition of body adiposity INDICES in older adults

Abstract

To propose an equation to estimate height and evaluate it's performance in the composition of adiposity indicators in community-dwelling older adults in Brazil. It is a cross-sectional study with 675 community-dwelling older adults (≥60 anos). Interviews and anthropometric measurements were taken at subjects' homes. Body mass index (BMI), body adiposity index (BAI), waist height ratio (WHR), and conicity index (CI) were calculated. The height estimation equation was obtained by multiple linear regression. Concordance between height and the indicators measured and estimated was evaluated by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Cohen's Kappa and Weighted Kappa indexes. Concordance was also evaluated by the Bland and Altman graphical approach. Equations of height estimation composed of knee height, sex, and schooling were proposed and stratified by age group (60-74 years and ≥75 years). In both age groups, almost perfect agreement (ICC≥0.915 and Kappa ≥0.81) was found between height and adiposity indicators estimated and measured. The equation proposed is suitable to estimate height of the older adults, and can be a valuable tool for the evaluation of the nutritional status of Brazilian older adults in the community.