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The effect of environmental factors on precocious puberty in children: a case-control study

Francis Manyori Bigambo1, Dandan Wang2, Qing Niu2

  • 1School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.

BMC Pediatrics
|May 1, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Environmental factors significantly impact precocious puberty in children, especially girls. Child body mass index (BMI) and secondhand smoke exposure are key risk factors, while adequate sleep is protective.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Environmental Health
  • Child Development

Background:

  • Increasing prevalence of precocious puberty in Chinese children necessitates understanding its risk factors.
  • Environmental influences on precocious puberty require further investigation to improve child health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effect of various environmental factors on the development of precocious puberty in children.
  • To identify significant risk and protective factors associated with precocious puberty.

Main Methods:

  • Conditional logistic regression analysis was employed to assess environmental factor effects.
  • A random forest model was utilized to determine the most critical risk factor.
  • Case-control study design with matched participants (girls: 1:1, boys: 1:4 ratio).

Main Results:

  • For girls, risk factors included cesarean section, child and maternal BMI, and secondhand smoke exposure.
  • Protective factors for girls were maternal/paternal height, bedtime, and night sleep duration.
  • Secondhand smoke exposure was a significant risk factor for boys.
  • Child BMI emerged as the most important risk factor for precocious puberty in girls via the random forest model.

Conclusions:

  • Environmental factors are demonstrably associated with precocious puberty in children.
  • The study highlights a particular vulnerability of girls to environmental influences on precocious puberty.
Abstract

Keywords:
Adequate sleepCesarean sectionChild BMIChildrenPrecocious pubertySecondhand smoke

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