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[The development of chest circumference in the first 3 years of life--results of a longitudinal study]
Insights
This study tracked chest circumference in 175 children from birth to age three, finding boys had larger measurements. Chest circumference relative to body length was lower than in previous studies.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric growth and development
- Anthropometry
- Child health monitoring
Context:
- Investigated chest circumference in 175 children (84 boys, 91 girls) from birth to three years.
- Compared current measurements to historical data from 1958/60 and 1970/71 within the same region.
- Assessed chest circumference in relation to body length.
Purpose:
- To establish current reference values for chest circumference in young children.
- To identify sex-based differences in chest circumference growth.
- To analyze changes in chest circumference growth velocity and its relation to body length over time.
Summary:
- Boys exhibited greater chest circumference distance values than girls.
- The highest growth velocity for chest circumference was observed in the first trimenon (three months).
- Current chest circumference values are lower than those reported in earlier decades, as is the chest circumference-to-body length ratio.
Impact:
- Provides updated reference data for pediatricians and researchers monitoring child growth.
- Highlights potential secular trends or changes in child development over time.
- Offers insights into normative chest circumference development for clinical assessment.
Abstract:
The chest circumference of 175 children (84 boys, 91 girls) was investigated from birth to the age of three years. Boys were shown to have greater distance values than girls. The growth velocity was highest in the first trimenon. The distance values of our children are lower than those of children investigated in the same territory during the periods of 1958/60 and 1970/71. The chest circumference as related to body length was found to be lower than described in previous investigations. These results are possible to recommended as reference values.