A new type of pubertal height reference based on growth aligned for onset of pubertal growth

• Objectives: Growth references of today traditionally describe growth in relation to chronological age. Despite the broad variation in age of pubertal maturation, references related to biological age are lacking. To fill this knowledge gap, we aimed to develop a new type of pubertal height reference for improved growth evaluation during puberty, considering individual variation in pubertal timing. Methods: Longitudinal length/height measures were obtained from birth to adult height in 1,572 healthy Swedish children (763 girls) born at term similar to 1990 to nonsmoking mothers and Nordic parents, a subgroup of GrowUp(1990) Gothenburg cohort. A total height reference was constructed from Quadratic-Exponential-Puberty-Stop (QEPS)-function-estimated heights from individual height curves that had been aligned for time/age at onset of pubertal growth (5% of P-function growth). References that separated growth into specific pubertal height(SDS ) P-function growth) and basic height(SDS) (QES-function growth) were also generated. Results: References (cm and SDS) are presented for total height, and height subdivided into that specific to puberty and to basic growth arising independently of puberty. The usefulness of the new pubertal growth reference was explored by identifying differences in the underlying growth functions that translate into differences in pubertal height gain for children of varying body mass, height, and with different pubertal timings. Conclusions: A new type of height reference allowing alignment of individual growth curves, based on the timing of the pubertal growth spurt was developed using QEPS-model functions. This represents a paradigm shift in pubertal growth research and growth monitoring during the adolescent period.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Endokrinologi och diabetes (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Endocrinology and Diabetes (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Pediatrik (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Pediatrics (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

child growth

growth hormone

peadiatric

puberty

statistics

transcription factor

standards

velocity

weight

estradiol

children

pattern

birth

life

peak

age

Endocrinology & Metabolism

Pediatrics

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)