Shahar Suzana, Pooy Ng See
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University Kebangsaan, Kuala Lumpur 50300, Malaysia.
Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2003;12(1):80-4.
Height is an important clinical indicator to derive body mass index (BMI), creatinine height index and also to estimate basal energy expenditure, basal metabolic rate and vital capacity through lung function. However, height measurement in the elderly may impose some difficulties and the reliability is doubtful. Equations estimating height from other anthropometric measures have been developed for Caucasians, but only one study has developed an equation (based on arm span only) for an Asian population. Therefore, a cross sectional study was conducted to develop equations using several anthropometric measurements for estimating stature in Malaysian elderly. A total of 100 adults (aged 30 to 49 y) and 100 elderly subjects (aged 60 to 86 y) from three major ethnic groups of Malays (52%), Chinese (38.5%) and Indians (9.5%) participated in this study. Anthropometric measurements included body weight, height, arm span, half arm span, demi span and knee height were carried out by trained nutritionists. Inter and intra observer errors and also % Coefficient Variation (%CV) were calculated for each anthropometric measurement. Equations to estimate stature were developed from the anthropometric measurements of arm span, demi span and knee height of adults using linear regression analysis according to sex. Elderly subjects were shorter and lighter compared to their younger counterparts. The %CV of anthropometric measurements in adults and elderly subjects ranged between 5 to 6%, with standing height having the lowest %CV. When the equations derived from adults were applied to elderly subjects, it was found that percentage difference between actual height and the estimated value ranged from 1.0 to 3.3%. However, the percentage difference between estimated height from the equations developed in this study compared to those derived from the equations of other populations ranged between 0.2 to 8.7%. In conclusion, standing height is an ideal technique for estimating the stature of individuals. However, in cases where its measurement is not possible or reliable, such as in elderly subjects, height can be estimated from proxy indicators of stature. In this study arm span showed the highest correlation with standing height, which is in agreement with other studies. It should be borne in mind that equations derived from taller statured populations (e.g. Caucasians) may be less accurate when applied to shorter statured populations.
身高是计算体重指数（BMI）、肌酐身高指数的重要临床指标，也是通过肺功能估算基础能量消耗、基础代谢率和肺活量的重要指标。然而，对老年人进行身高测量可能会遇到一些困难，其可靠性也值得怀疑。针对高加索人，已经开发出了根据其他人体测量指标估算身高的公式，但只有一项研究为亚洲人群开发了一个公式（仅基于臂展）。因此，开展了一项横断面研究，利用多种人体测量指标来开发估算马来西亚老年人身高的公式。来自马来族（52%）、华族（38.5%）和印度族（9.5%）这三个主要族群的100名成年人（年龄在30至49岁之间）和100名老年人（年龄在60至86岁之间）参与了本研究。人体测量指标包括体重、身高、臂展、半臂展、半跨度和膝高，由经过培训的营养师进行测量。计算了每位观察者之间和观察者内部的误差以及各人体测量指标的变异系数百分比（%CV）。根据性别，利用线性回归分析，从成年人的臂展、半跨度和膝高的人体测量数据中得出估算身高的公式。与年轻同龄人相比，老年人更矮、体重更轻。成年人和老年人的人体测量指标的%CV在5%至6%之间，其中站立身高的%CV最低。当将从成年人得出的公式应用于老年人时，发现实际身高与估算值之间的百分比差异在1.0%至3.3%之间。然而，本研究得出的公式估算的身高与其他人群公式估算的身高之间的百分比差异在0.2%至8.7%之间。总之，站立身高是估算个体身高的理想方法。然而，在无法进行或无法可靠测量身高的情况下，比如在老年人中，可以通过身高的替代指标来估算身高。在本研究中，臂展与站立身高的相关性最高，这与其他研究结果一致。需要牢记的是，从身材较高的人群（如高加索人）得出的公式应用于身材较矮的人群时可能不太准确。
