Interestingly, Cattermole et al. found mid-arm circumference to be more accurate and precise than age-based rules for predicting weight in school aged children, and as accurate as the Broselow tape [14]. Krieser et al. [5] showed that parental estimate of

children’s weight was a reliable method of weight estimation; 78% of the 410 children studied had an estimated weight within 10% of their actual weight and the mean difference between estimated and measured weight was −0.6kg [5]. A previous study Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical performed by Harris et al. had demonstrated that out of 100 children from 0–8years of age, 84 had estimated weights within 15% of actual weights when parental estimate was used [15]. Leffler et al. also demonstrated that parental estimate was within 10% of actual weights in 80% of cases [16] and Goldman et al. demonstrated that parental estimate was within 10% of actual weights in 73% of cases [17]. This method would have to be tested further

in a Trinidadian population to determine whether it is as accurate as Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical in other countries. It is clear from the previously cited studies from India and South Africa that age-based formulae for estimating weight may not be applicable Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical to developing countries, and that studies on these formulae will yield differing results in different settings, given the variation in body habitus between children Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical from developed and developing countries. In light of this, formulae used in the first world for weight estimation should be tested before they are adopted in developing countries, such as Trinidad. This

study showed that the APLS formula did not significantly underestimate weight in the 1–5year age group compared to other formulae. This is in click here contrast to the evidence that has been emerging worldwide, where there has been a tendency for the APLS formula to significantly underestimate weight. This may be in keeping with the UNICEF progress for children report, which found a larger proportion of underweight Trinidadian Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical children than in first world countries [18]. This and other evidence suggests that Trinidadian children in this age group weigh less than their all first world counterparts [19]. The Luscombe and Owens formula was no more accurate at estimating weight than the APLS formula in our population. The APLS formula was also found to be marginally more precise than the Luscombe and Owens formula, with 45.6% having estimated weight within 10% of measured weight using the APLS formula as opposed to 42.3% using the Luscombe and Owens formula. The new derived formula ([2.5 × age]+8) was more accurate than either the APLS or Luscombe and Owens formula. However, the overall accuracy and precision of all three formulae were not found to be significantly different. These findings suggest that the APLS formula is acceptable for use in the 1–5year old age group.