Use of national and international growth charts for studying height in European children: development of up-to-date European height-for-age charts.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Growth charts based on data collected in different populations and time periods are key tools to assess children's linear growth. We analyzed the impact of geographic factors and the secular trend on height-for-age charts currently used in European populations, developed up-to-date European growth charts, and studied the effect of using different charts in a sample of growth retarded children.

Methods and findings

In an international survey we obtained 18 unique national height-for-age charts from 28 European countries and compared them with charts from the World Health Organization (WHO), Euro-Growth reference, and Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As an example, we obtained height data from 3,534 children with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) from 1

SUBMITTER: Bonthuis M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3419735 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature