A Retrospective Analysis of Patients with Short Stature in the South of China Between 2007 and 2015

Overview

Journal Biomed Res Int

Publisher Wiley

Specialties Biomedical Engineering
Biotechnology
General Medicine

Date 2019 Jan 24

PMID 30671461

Citations 6

Authors

Su Wu

Qian-Qi Liu

Wei Gu

Shi-Ning Ni

Xing Shi

Zi-Yang Zhu

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: To describe the demographic features of children with short stature and poor growth in the south of China and provide better guidance on clinical strategy and decisions.

Study Design: This retrospective, chart review study analyzed children with short stature and poor growth admitted to the Department of Endocrinology of Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from Jan 2007 to Dec 2015.

Results: The chart review yielded 4142 patients, including 2546 boys and 1596 girls ( < 0.001); the number of patients gradually increased per year from 2007 to 2015. There was an upward trend in the average levels of height standard deviations (SDs) during the study period ( < 0.001), both in males ( < 0.001) and females ( < 0.001). Mean height SDs were smaller in females (-2.42±1.09) than males (-2.33±1.03; = 0.01). The percentage of females admitted at normal height (33.83%) was lower than that of males (37.20%; = 0.028). The peak age range of hospitalization in males was 10-12 years of age, while females were generally admitted earlier-8-10 years.

Conclusions: There was an increasing tendency to focus on children's height. Parents and pediatricians were recommended to pay more attention to the treatment needs of girls while avoiding excessive treatment of those who merely appear not to be tall enough without a clear medical issue related to growth, especially for boys.

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