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Published on: February 14, 2014
Visual estimation of biological age of elderly subjects: good interrater agreement
1Department of Geriatric Medicine, University Hospital Nijmegen St Radboud, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. M.Olde-Rikkert@czzoger.azn.nl
Background:
Visual estimation of age can be used as a measure of biological age (BA) and has become useful in predicting life expectancy.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to quantify the interrater agreement of experienced geriatricians in visual estimation of BA.
Methods:
In a prospective controlled study, 4 experienced geriatricians estimated the BA of 43 elderly subjects (mean age 82.5 +/- 6.0 years) during a short standardized interview, using a checklist of age-associated changes in appearance, communication and mobility. Interrater agreement was calculated by analysis of variance and expressed as the intra-class coefficient of correlation (ICCC).
Results:
The ICCC of the BA estimation was 0.76 (p < 0.001). Within-subject standard deviation of the estimate was 3. 4 years. On average, BA was 4.8 (+/-4.4) years lower than chronological age (p < 0.001).
Conclusion:
Visual estimation of BA based on a simple checklist has a good interrater agreement and therefore should be part of geriatric assessment.
