Determination of standard reference body indices for clinical application in Ghana

Abstract

The study is tailored to measure body height and weight in order to estimate local base standard reference body surface area, body surface index and body mass index (BSA, BSI and BMI) in Ghana for clinical application. The data were collected based on age and gender variation of patients and compare the established standard reference body indices with international established estimates. The weight and BMI measuring machine together with tape measure were the measuring tools used. The procedure involve using BMI calculator with DuBois formula to estimate local standard reference values of BMI, BSI and BSA in Ghana. The height and weight of male were 178.6cm and 80.8kg, while female height and weight were 167.1cm and 61.9kg respectively. The determined Ghanaian standard reference estimated BMI, BSI and BSA were: 25.19kg/m 239.81 kg/m2and 2.02m 2for male and 21.91kg/m236.58kg/m2and 1.69m2for female respectively. Model relationship between these parameters has been designed to enableprediction of any unknown parameters if at least one is known. The reference height, weight, BMI, BSI and BSA are recommended to be used in Ghana for clinical application