Worldwide Secular Trends in Age at Pubertal Onset Assessed by Breast Development Among Girls: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

The initial clinical sign of pubertal onset in girls is breast gland development (thelarche). Although numerous studies have used recalled age at menarche (first menstruation) to assess secular trends of pubertal timing, no systematic review has been conducted of secular trends of thelarche.

Objectives

To systematically evaluate published data on pubertal timing based on age at thelarche and evaluate the change in pubertal onset in healthy girls around the world.

Data sources

A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed and Embase of all original peer-reviewed articles published in English before June 20, 2019.

Study selection

Included studies used clinical assessment of breast development in healthy girls and used adequate statistical meth

SUBMITTER: Eckert-Lind C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7042934 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature