The cross-sectional head circumference growth curves for Japanese from birth to 18 years of age: the 1990 and 1992-1994 national survey data.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to construct the cross-sectional head circumference growth curves, intended for clinical use, for the Japanese from birth to 18 years of age.


METHODS
Two sets of the national survey data on head circumference and height were utilized for the study: (1) The 1990 data collected by the Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare on children below 7 years of age (n = 16 621, 8511 males, 8110 females). (2) The 1992-1994 data collected by the Research Institute of Human Engineering for Quality Life on children from 7 to 18 years of age (n = 10 183, 5610 males, 4573 females). We used the LMS method to obtain the 3rd, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th and 97th percentile values for each age and gender.


CONCLUSIONS
The results showed a persistent positive secular trend in head circumference in Japanese children of both genders. Comparison of these data with those of recent Caucasian studies revealed ethnic difference in head circumference, with Japanese having relatively larger head circumference for height as compared with Caucasians.
Anzo
Makoto
M
Department of Pediatrics, Keio University Medical School, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Takahashi
Takao
T
Sato
Seiji
S
Matsuo
Nobutake
N
D000293:Adolescent; D044466:Asian People; D002508:Cephalometry; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006257:Head / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D044465:White People