Ann Pediatr Endocrinol Metab.  2023 Sep;28(3):193-199. 10.6065/apem.2244190.095.

Relationship between short stature at 3 years old and height, weight, and body mass index changes for 6 years after birth: a retrospective, nationwide, population-based study of children born 2011–2014 in Korea

• Kim SJ
• Jin JH
• Chung IH

• KMID: 2546343
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.6065/apem.2244190.095

Abstract

Purpose
Height at 3 years of age, when catch-up growth based on birth history is completed, is considered a major prognostic factor for predicting short stature, underweight, and growth faltering. However, too few large-scale studies have followed and analyzed height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) changes in children whose stature was short at 3 years of age. This study followed and compared the growth parameters (height, weight, and BMI) of children with short stature at 3 years of age and children with nonshort stature at 3 years of age for 6 years after birth using nationwide, population-based data.
Methods
We retrospectively analyzed physical measurement data from the National Health Screening Program for Infants and Children for people born in 2011–2014 in Korea and followed to 2020. The data were provided by the National Health Insurance Service’s customized data service. Growth parameters were compared using chi-square tests, Student t-tests, analyses of variance, and linear regressions.
Results
Among 210,902 enrolled participants, 759 (0.4%) and 210,143 (99.6%) were in the short stature at 3 years group and the nonshort stature at 3 years group, respectively. In both sexes, height, weight, and BMI for 6 years after birth were significantly higher in the nonshort stature at 3 years group than in the short stature at 3 years group (P<0.0001). The BMI rebound was observed later than the standard period in the short stature at 3 years group.
Conclusion
Early intervention and close follow-up are necessary to prevent persistent short stature and growth faltering in children with short stature at 3 years of age.

Keyword

Short stature; Growth faltering; National Health Screening Program for Infants and Children; Catch-up growth

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Subject selection flowchart. NHSPIC, National Health Screening Program for Infants and Children.

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  Fig. 2. Growth parameters for 6 years after birth for each sex in the short stature group and nonshort stature group. (A) Height for 6 years after birth for males in the short stature and nonshort stature groups. (B) Height for 6 years after birth for females in the short stature and nonshort stature groups. (C) Weight for 6 years after birth for males in the short stature and nonshort stature groups. (D) Weight for 6 years after birth for females in the short stature and nonshort stature groups. (E) Body mass index for 6 years after birth for males in the short stature and nonshort stature groups. (F) Body mass index for 6 years after birth for females in the short stature and nonshort stature groups. *P-value for body mass index at 30–36 months after birth is 0.35 in males. †P-value for body mass index at 30–36 months after birth is 0.04 in females.

Reference

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