The Relationship Between Children's Birth Time and Short Stature

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Endocrinology
• Growth and Development

Background:

• Limited research exists on the association between birth timing and childhood short stature.
• Understanding this relationship is crucial for pediatric growth assessments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential association between the time of birth and the incidence of short stature in children.
• To explore linear and non-linear relationships between birth date and height standard deviation score (SDS).

Main Methods:

• Data from 462 children (aged 2-14) including height, BMI, and serum 25(OH)D levels were analyzed.
• Multivariate logistic regression, smooth curve fitting, and threshold effect analyses were employed.
• Children were assessed for short stature based on height SDS and other clinical parameters.

Main Results:

• Children born in summer showed a significantly lower risk of short stature compared to those born in spring (OR: 0.435).
• A non-linear relationship was observed: risk of short stature decreased daily from day 1 to 250 (OR: 0.994) and increased from day 250 to 365 (OR: 1.008).
• Vitamin D insufficiency was more prevalent in the short stature group (38.91%).

Conclusions:

• Seasonal birth patterns, specifically summer birth, are associated with a reduced risk of short stature.
• The sequential day of the year demonstrates a complex, non-linear association with short stature risk.
• These findings suggest birth timing may be a factor in pediatric growth and development.