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Updated: Aug 8, 2026
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Method for the earlier recognition of abnormal stature
Insights
Many children with abnormal stature, including short stature, are referred too late for effective treatment. Early recognition through population screening with growth charts is crucial for ensuring normal adult height.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Growth and Development
- Clinical Pediatrics
Background:
- Abnormal height percentiles (below 3rd or above 97th) in children warrant evaluation.
- Short stature is a common presentation in pediatric growth clinics.
- Timely intervention is critical for achieving optimal adult height.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze referral patterns for children with abnormal stature.
- To identify delays in diagnosis and treatment for conditions affecting growth.
- To advocate for improved screening methods for growth abnormalities.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of referral ages for 227 children evaluated at a growth clinic.
- Categorization of patients based on height percentiles and identified causes of abnormal growth.
- Assessment of the timeliness of referrals in relation to potential treatment efficacy.
Main Results:
- 87% of evaluated children presented with short stature.
- Organic causes (e.g., growth hormone deficiency, hypothyroidism, Turner syndrome) accounted for 40% of short stature cases.
- A significant proportion of children were referred too late for effective treatment to ensure normal adult height.
Conclusions:
- Late referrals hinder effective treatment for children with growth disorders.
- Development and implementation of comprehensive percentile charts are necessary for early population screening.
- Prompt identification of abnormal stature can improve treatment outcomes and final adult height.
Abstract:
Two hundred and twenty seven children with a height below the 3rd or above the 97th centile were seen consecutively in the Oxford growth clinic. Their referral ages were analysed to determine the pattern of referral. Eighty seven per cent of the children had short stature. In 40% of these there was an organic reason for abnormal growth--the most common conditions being growth hormone deficiency, hypothyroidism, and Turner's syndrome--but the rest had genetic short stature or 'constitutional' delay in puberty. Many children who could have been treated effectively were referred too late, for effective treatment to ensure normal adult height because of this we have developed full sized percentile charts to screen populations of children so that abnormal stature can be recognised immediately.
