Can self-reported height and weight be used among people living with HIV/AIDS?

To assess the reliability and validity of self-reported height and weight in adults living with HIV/AIDS (ALWHA) we assessed 508 ALWHA of both genders on antiretroviral therapy. Height and weight were directly measured in a subsample. Sensitivity and specificity analysis were performed to determine the validity of self-reported measures. Bland-Altman's method was used to calculate the limits of agreement between values while reliability was assessed using intraclass coefficients. Regression equations were devised to determine actual measures from self-reported values. Mean differences among measured and self-reported weight were -0.96 kg for men and -0.54 kg for women. Mean height differences were less than 2 cm, yielding good reliability for body mass index (BMI). Overweight (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m(2)) diagnosis sensitivity was 90.6% and specificity was 81.2%. Corrected measures determined by regression equations had stronger correlation with self-reported values (r > 0.980). Self-reported height and weight showed good reliability and validity compared with directly measured height and weight. However, measures should be corrected whenever possible to achieve higher accuracy.