Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 29, 2025
Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts
Published on: January 29, 2018
Growth Patterns of Children With Short Stature in Adulthood According to Auxological Status and Maturity at Birth
Roland Pfäffle1,2, Matthias Knüpfer1,3, Melanie Göbert1
1Hospital for Children and Adolescents, University of Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
Insights
Prematurity and being small-for-gestational-age (SGA) impact children's final height. Early growth in the first year is key to identifying those at risk for short stature, aiding timely intervention.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Growth and Development
- Neonatology
Background:
- Prematurity and being small-for-gestational-age (SGA) are associated with impaired postnatal growth and potential long-term growth restriction.
- Approximately 10-15% of children born SGA experience persistent short stature into adulthood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify differences in growth patterns based on sex, maturity, and birth auxological status.
- To facilitate earlier identification of SGA children who may develop adult short stature.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of growth data from 44,791 infants born between 1980 and 2012.
- Inclusion of 5,698 children with near-final height (nfh) measurements and at least two additional data points.
Main Results:
- Preterm and SGA children exhibited significantly lower mean nfh SDS and a higher likelihood of nfh below the third percentile compared to term and appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) children.
- Of SGA children, 56% achieved catch-up growth (CUG) to the 10th percentile or higher (SGA-CU), while 44% did not (SGA-S).
- Early growth (first year) catch-up growth (CUG) significantly differed between SGA-CU and SGA-S groups, aiding earlier discrimination.
Conclusions:
- Final growth is influenced by prematurity and birth auxological status, not sex.
- Height/length SDS increments during the first year are crucial for distinguishing SGA children with normal versus short stature.
- While CUG monitoring up to years 2-3 adds specificity, discrimination becomes challenging thereafter.
Context:
Prematurity carries a risk for impaired postnatal growth and long-term growth restriction. Especially children born SGA seem vulnerable for poor growth, as a persistent short stature can be observed in app 10-15% of these children.
Objective:
In this study we aimed to recognize differences in growth patterns of children according to sex, maturity, and auxological status at birth facilitating earlier identification of small-for-gestational-age (SGA) children with adult short stature.
Methods:
The growth data of 44 791 infants born between January 1, 1980, and December 30, 2012, among 2 pediatric cohorts with follow-up through December 31, 2020, were analyzed. A total of 5698 children with birth data had measurements at near final height (nfh) and at least 2 further points.
Results:
Preterm children (gestational age < 37 weeks) had a significantly lower mean nfh SDS than term children (preterm, -0.61; term, -0.18) and a higher likelihood of nfh < third percentile (preterm, 20.5%; term, 12.2%). SGA born children also had a lower mean nfh SD score (SDS) than children born appropriate for gestational age (AGA) (SGA, -1.06; AGA, -0.15) and a higher likelihood of nfh < third percentile (SGA, 28.2%; AGA 10.1%). Of 1204 SGA children, 672 (56%) showed successful catch-up growth (CUG) to nfh greater than or equal to the 10th percentile (SGA-CU), and 532 children (44%) did not (SGA-S). The difference in their mean nfh SDS (SGA-CU, -0.12; SGA-S -2.26) can only partly be explained by the differences in mean mid-parental height SDS (SGA-CU, -0.3; SGA-S, -1.19). During the first year, SGA-CU showed higher CUG (SGA-CU, +1.2 SDS; SGA-S, +0.45 SDS), which helps to discriminate between groups earlier.
Conclusion:
Final growth outcome was influenced by prematurity and auxological status at birth, but not by sex. Height/length SDS increments during year 1 are instrumental to discern SGA children with later normal or short stature. While observing CUG until year 2 and 3 can add specificity, discrimination thereafter becomes difficult.
Related Concept Videos
01:10Nature and Nurture
01:09Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age
Initially, the limb buds consist of a core of mesenchyme covered by a layer of ectoderm. The ectoderm at the end of the limb bud thickens to form a narrow crest called the apical ectodermal ridge. This ridge stimulates the underlying...
01:27Signs of Puberty
01:18Polygenic Traits
01:20Introduction to the Skeletal System
Components of the Skeletal System
Bone, or osseous tissue, is a hard connective tissue that forms an internal support structure for the human body. Bones shield vulnerable organs and soft tissue from external forces. For example, the vertebral bones protect and support the spinal cord.
Cartilage, a semi-rigid connective tissue found in regions such as...
01:22Sutures of the Skull
Sutures are immobile joints between adjacent bones of the skull. The narrow gap between the bones is filled with dense, fibrous connective tissue that unites the bones. The long sutures located between the skull bones are not straight but instead follow irregular, tightly twisting paths. These twisting lines tightly...