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  • Original Article
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Body Composition, Energy Expenditure and Physical Activity

Ulna length to predict height in English and Portuguese patient populations

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 66, pages 209–215 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

Background/Objective:

This study assessed the extent to which ulna length could be used to predict height and body mass index (BMI) in various groups of English and Portuguese hospitalised patients, and tidal volumes in critically ill patients at risk of requiring ventilatory support.

Subjects/Methods:

Bedside measurements of weight, height and ulna length were made in 507 patients (432 English, 75 Portuguese; 264 men, 243 women) with a mean age of 61.8±18.9 years, height 165.1±9.5 cm and BMI 26.7±5.43 kg/m2.

Results:

Ulna length could be measured with ease in all subjects. The intra-observer technical error of measurement in the same subjects was 1%. Within each category of men and women aged <65 years and 65 years and over, there was no significant difference between the English and Portuguese in the intercept or regression coefficients for the ulna–height relationships. A strong relationship was found between predicted and measured height (r=0.963, standard error of the estimate 4.6 cm). The overall mean and s.d. of the difference was 0.3±2.7% of height, with no significant difference between English and Portuguese populations. The discrepancy between measured and predicted BMI corresponded to 0.7±5.5% (s.d.) (all subjects) and for ventilatory volumes predicted from height (critically ill subjects only) 0.7±7.1%.

Conclusion:

Height can be predicted from ulna length with precision and ease in a wide range of patient groups, and without the need to use different equations in English and Portuguese populations. The predicted measurements are acceptable in most clinical circumstances.

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Acknowledgements

We wish to thank University staff and also staff working on the wards, who helped with this study in England and Portugal. Professor Philip Calder coordinated a previous study associated with fish oil supplementation in ICU in Portugal, which was linked to the present study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hospital Padre Américo, Penafiel, Portugal

    V M Barbosa & E Lafuente

  2. Institute of Human Nutrition, School of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, UK

    R J Stratton & M Elia

Authors
  1. V M Barbosa
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  2. R J Stratton
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  3. E Lafuente
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  4. M Elia
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to M Elia.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Contributors: ME and RJS established the UK data. VMB coordinated the data collection in Portugal and was facilitated by EL. The authors commented on the paper that was drafted by ME.

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Barbosa, V., Stratton, R., Lafuente, E. et al. Ulna length to predict height in English and Portuguese patient populations. Eur J Clin Nutr 66, 209–215 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2011.177

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