Anthropometric Parameters for Height Estimation inEgyptian Elderly Males

Abstract

The current study was carried out to assess the usage of three anthropometric measures (demi-span, ulna length and knee height) in height estimation, to detect which of these anthropometrics is the most accurate for height estimation in Egyptian elderly males, and to provide a nationally representative regression equation for stature prediction that could be applied to Egyptian elderly males. The sample of this study consists of 226 community dwelling Egyptian elderly males aged 60 years and older. Allelderly who participated in this study were ambulant and able to stand erect without spinal curvature. While those who have a plaster cast, a prosthetic, an amputated limb, limb oedema, frozen shoulder, or spinal curvature, were excluded from the study. Bed or chair-bound patients and uncooperative individuals were also excluded from the study. Each participant was subjected to: 1- Informed oral consent. 2- Measurement of standing height 3- Measurement of knee height 4- Measurement of demi-span 5- Measurement of ulna length. Results of the current study showed thatthere were significant positive linear correlations between standing height and the three studied anthropometric measures. The correlation with knee height was stronger than those with demi-span and ulna length. This study suggests the following model for using knee height to estimate standing height of Egyptian elderly males [Height= 57.345+ 2.131 (Knee height)], this model was found to be significant and explains 63.3% of changes of standing height. It was also found that by using the study equation, there is no significant difference between measured and predicted heights. While Prediction by other equations was found to be statistically significantly lower than measured standing height. So, we assume that the new equation developed in this study is more applicable to Egyptian elderly males than the previous sets of equations that were not developed for our population.