Is It Time to Change Our Reference Curve for Femur Length? Using the Z-Score to Select the Best Chart in a Chinese Population.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To use Z-scores to compare different charts of femur length (FL) applied to our population with the aim of identifying the most appropriate chart.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted in Beijing. Fifteen hospitals in Beijing were chosen as clusters using a systemic cluster sampling method, in which 15,194 pregnant women delivered from June 20th to November 30th, 2013. The measurements of FL in the second and third trimester were recorded, as well as the last measurement obtained before delivery. Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, we identified FL measurements from 19996 ultrasounds from 7194 patients between 11 and 42 weeks gestation. The FL data were then transformed into Z-scores that were calculated using three series of reference equations ob

SUBMITTER: Li B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4961440 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature