PREMATURITY, SGA, OBESITY AND RAPID WEIGHT GAIN AS KEY FACTORS IN PREMATURE ADRENARCHE: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY IN...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Endocrinology
• Reproductive Health
• Growth and Development

Background:

• Premature adrenarche (PA) is an early sign of puberty, associated with prematurity, small for gestational age (SGA), and rapid weight gain.
• Early identification and management of PA are crucial for mitigating potential long-term health risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the influence of prematurity, SGA, obesity, and rapid weight gain on the occurrence of PA in Turkish girls.
• To identify key risk factors for PA for improved clinical prediction and intervention.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of medical records for 104 girls diagnosed with PA between 2015 and 2020.
• Evaluation of clinical data including gestational age, birth weight, BMI, DHEA-S levels, and delta weight SDS.
• Statistical assessment of correlations between PA and identified risk factors.

Main Results:

• 14.4% of girls with PA were born prematurely, and 28.8% were SGA.
• 30.5% of patients were overweight or obese at diagnosis.
• A significant positive correlation was found between rapid weight gain (delta weight SDS) and DHEA-S levels (r=0.523, p<0.01), indicating rapid weight gain as a key factor.

Conclusions:

• Prematurity and SGA are significant risk factors for developing premature adrenarche.
• Rapid weight gain is a critical determinant in PA development, more so than obesity alone.
• Monitoring weight gain in premature and SGA infants is essential for early PA risk assessment and management.