Create Date: June 21, 2024
Last Modified Date: December 3, 2024
The most common formula for BSA is the Du Bois formula. There are various other formulas that are used and can yield correct results, but that is the one that we use here.
The formula looks like this:
Another commonly used BSA formula is known as the Mosteller formula, created by Ralph C. Mosteller, an American biostatistician. Dr. Mosteller introduced this formula in a paper published in 1987, titled "Simplified Calculation of Body-Surface Area," in the New England Journal of Medicine.
The formula he submitted was accepted due to its simplicity and reasonable accuracy. The formula is:
BSA (m2) = √[(Height (cm) × Weight (kg)) / 3600]
A formula that works very well for both adults and children is known as the Haycock formula. It can be calculated with the following formula:
BSA (m2) = 0.024265 × Height (cm)0.3964 × Weight (kg)0.5378
Our BSA tool efficiently helps you find the body surface area of an individual. The steps required to get your answer include:
Let's say we want to find out our BSA to get a better understanding of our body. We can use this tool to help with that. We are 165 pounds and 5 foot 10 inches tall. We will enter 165 in the weight field, then we will enter 5 into the height - feet field, finally, we will enter 10 into the height - inches field.
We are now ready to hit calculate and get our answer. Once we do we find that our body surface area is 1.92 feet squared.
BSA is crucial for properly dosing medications, especially chemotherapeutics and other drugs where dosage accuracy is critical. It's also used in the standardization of physiological measurements such as cardiac index and in assessing the nutritional needs of patients.
While BSA formulas provide a good approximation, they may not always perfectly reflect individual body morphology, especially in patients who are significantly under or overweight. However, they remain a valuable tool for standardizing doses and measurements in clinical practice.
Yes, BSA is applicable to children and it is often used to determine dosages for pediatric medications. The Haycock formula, in particular, is designed to work well for both adults and children.
