ft2
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m2
BSA is a measure of the total surface area of a human body. Your BSA is will be different than others as it is dependent on your specific weight and height.
The most common formula for BSA is the Du Bois formula. There are various other formulas that are used and can yield correct results.
As stated before, the Du Bois formula is the most common formula used to fidn the BSA of an individual. It is also one of the earliest formulas created for BSA. It is the formula that our BSA calculator utilizes.
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 know as the Haycock formula. It can be calculated with the following formula: BSA (m2) = 0.024265 × Height (cm)0.3964 × Weight (kg)0.5378
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, you can use online calculators that implement formulas like Du Bois or Mosteller. These calculators require your height and weight and will compute your BSA.
Create Date: June 21, 2024
Last Modified Date: July 5, 2024
