The Cardiovascular
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Ideal and adjusted body weight

Devine ideal body weight and adjusted body weight for dosing.

Ideal and adjusted body weight
Sex
Height
Actual body weight
Complete the fields above to see the result.

When to use

  • Weight-based drug dosing and ventilator tidal-volume setting (6 mL/kg IBW), and as the basis for adjusted body weight in obesity.

Formula

IBW (Devine) = 50 kg (men) or 45.5 kg (women) + 2.3 kg per inch over 60 inches. Adjusted BW = IBW + 0.4 × (actual − IBW).

Pearls and pitfalls

  • Lung-protective ventilation uses IBW, not actual weight, because lung size tracks height rather than adiposity.

References

  1. Devine BJ. Gentamicin therapy. Drug Intell Clin Pharm. 1974;8:650–5.