ESPE Abstracts

Introduction: Accurate height monitoring is crucial in pediatrics for assessing growth, development, nutritional status, and managing medical conditions. The traditional stadiometer, while the gold standard for height measurement, is limited by bulkiness, lack of portability, and the need for trained personnel. These challenges have spurred exploration into alternative methods. Apple's "Measure" App, utilizing the iPhone's camera and LiDAR scanner, offers a promising solution for accurate real-world measurements.

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the reliability of the iPhone Measure app in measuring height among pediatric patients.

Methodology: Conducted as a prospective, cross-sectional study at an endocrinology clinic, children aged 2-18 years who could stand unsupported and lacked skeletal deformities were included. Despite targeting a sample size of 30, data were collected from 50 children. Trained observers utilized both the stadiometer and iPhone Measure app for height measurements. The first 30 children were measured by the initial observer set, with the remaining 20 by a second set, minimizing measurement bias. Each observer took three readings per method, averaging measurements. Measurements via the iPhone Measure app were standardized under optimal conditions: a well-lit room, participants standing against a plain white wall, free of accessories, at a fixed 3-meter distance from the observer.

Data Analysis: Reliability of the iPhone Measure app was assessed by comparing its measurements with those from the stadiometer. Statistical analyses included the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Bland-Altman analysis to assess method concordance.

Results: Among 50 subjects (20 females, 30 males) averaging 12 years old (±3), with a median BMI of 21.1 and BMI SDS of 0.7, mean height measured by stadiometer was 147.5 cm (±17.5) versus 147.3 cm (±17.4) by the iPhone Measure app. Initial 30-child measurements averaged 150.7 cm (±14.8) with the stadiometer and 150.5 cm (±14.8) with the app; the subsequent 20 averaged 142.8 cm (±20.2) and 142.4 cm (±20.1), respectively. The mean absolute difference between methods was 0.2 cm (±0.1). High ICC of 0.99 (P value 0.000) and confirming Bland-Altman analysis underscored method agreement.

Conclusion: This study underscores the iPhone Measure app's reliability in pediatric height measurement using LiDAR technology. Findings contribute to mobile applications' integration into pediatric healthcare, potentially enhancing clinical practice, patient care, and the broader field of pediatric health.