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Auxological computer based network for early detection of disorders of growth and weight attainment
Eberhard Keller1, Ruth Gausche, Christof Meigen
1Children's Hospital, University of Leipzig, Germany. kellere@medizin.uni-leipzig.de
Insights
A computer system effectively monitors children's growth, enabling early detection of growth disorders and weight issues. This system aids pediatricians in identifying potential health concerns in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Auxology
- Public Health Surveillance
Background:
- A collaborative network of pediatricians and pediatric endocrinologists in Leipzig established a data bank in 1998 for early growth disorder detection.
- The network integrates a data bank with height and weight measurements, age, and gender data for ongoing monitoring.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of a computer-based monitoring system for early detection of growth disorders and disturbed weight gain in children.
- To assess the prevalence of abnormal height and BMI percentiles within a large pediatric population.
Main Methods:
- Anonymized data from 60,984 children were collected and monitored up to September 2000.
- Data were analyzed using German Synthetic Norm Curve for height and German normal data for Body Mass Index (BMI).
- Growth dynamics pathology was defined as a change in height Standard Deviation Score (SDS) greater than 0.5 SDS/year.
Main Results:
- 3.6% of children exceeded the 97th percentile for height, and 4.5% were below the 3rd percentile.
- 12.6% of children had a BMI above the 97th percentile, and 4.4% were below the 3rd percentile.
- Growth acceleration was observed in 3.4% and deceleration in 2.7% of children assessed for growth dynamics.
Conclusions:
- The computer-based monitoring system is effective for documenting short-term and long-term growth and weight changes in the general pediatric population.
- Early detection of growth disorders and disturbed weight gain in individual children is facilitated by this system.
Introduction:
For several years practising pediatricians and pediatric endocrinologists in Leipzig have been collaborating closely to achieve early detection of growth disorders. As a result of this collaboration a data-bank was established in September 1998 into which height and weight measurements were entered and related to age and gender. This well established network of pediatricians in practice, pediatric endocrinologists and the auxological data-bank functions well.
Methods:
All data are anonymized and continually monitored. By September 2000, the data for 60,984 children had been assessed. The data were evaluated using the German Synthethic Norm Curve for body height and German normal data for BMI. Pathology of growth dynamics was assumed when change in height SDS was greater than 0.5 height SDS/year.
Results:
Analysis showed that 2,216 children (3.6%) had a height greater than the 97th percentile and 2,775 children (4.5%) had a height less than the 3rd percentile of the normative reference. BMI above the 97th percentile was found in 7,687 children (12.6%) and below the 3rd percentile in 2,678 children (4.4%). When assessing growth development (n = 5,665), 194 (3.4%) showed acceleration and 155 (2.7%) showed deceleration of growth.
Conclusion:
The computer-based monitoring system is useful to document short-term and long-term changes of growth and weight attainment in the general population. The presence of growth disorders and/or disturbed weight gain can be detected early in the individual child.