Discrepancies and potential impacts of self-reported versus measured height and weight on adult transthoracic echocardiography findings.

Abstract

Introduction: Accurate chamber quantification in transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is important for guiding clinical decision-making. We aimed to assess the accuracy and reliability of patients' self-reported height and weight compared to measured height and weight, and how any differences in the calculated body surface area (BSA) may affect TTE parameter classification.

Methods: Consecutive patients attending for out-patient TTE were prospectively recruited at a large NHS Trust as part of a service evaluation. Height and weight were initially self-reported and then measured. TTE parameters were subsequently indexed to BSA or height based on both self-reported and measured values and compared.

Results: 698 patients participated. Self-reported and measured height, weight, and BSA were strongly correlated (r > 0.90). There was a difference between the mean self-reported and measured height (self-reported being 1.1 cm higher, p < 0.001) and weight (self-reported being 1.6 kg lower, p < 0.001) as well as the resulting BSA (self-reported being 0.01m² lower, p = 0.008). Indexing TTE parameters to self-reported (rather than measured) values resulted in changes to the indexed left ventricular end-diastolic volume, left ventricular end-systolic volume, Sinuses of Valsalva diameter and proximal ascending aorta diameter (all p < 0.05), although the effect sizes were small.

Conclusion: Compared to measured height, weight and calculated BSA, self-reported values are statistically different but result in little clinically important change to TTE parameters in out-patients attending for TTE. However, given the possible impact on clinical decision-making, TTE conclusions based on self-reported height and weight should be interpreted with care, particularly indexed left ventricular volumes and aorta dimensions. Echocardiographers should be vigilant in identifying rare cases where individuals significantly misreport their height or weight.