Growth status in children and adolescents with sickle cell disease.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the BMI status of children and adolescents with sickle cell disease (SCD) and determine if zBMI status during adolescence is predicted by gender, childhood zBMI status, disease genotype, and healthcare utilization (emergency department visits or hospitalizations).


METHODS
Medical chart reviews were conducted on 133 patients followed through a regional Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center to obtain anthropometric measures and healthcare utilization data. Gender-specific BMI z-scores were calculated based on Centers for Disease Control (CDC) norms using Epi Info NutStat Software and SPSS generated syntax. Data were summarized categorically across two time periods for each participant: childhood (age 6-12 years) and adolescence (age 13-18 years).


RESULTS
Males were three times more likely to be underweight in adolescence compared to CDC norms, whereas females were three times more likely to be obese in adolescence. In addition, regression analyses indicated that BMI in adolescence was predicted by gender, average weight in childhood, and the average number of emergency department visits.


CONCLUSIONS
Children with SCD generally exhibit normal growth during childhood and adolescence, although 5-10% are at risk for poor growth or obesity. Prevention and intervention efforts should consider gender, average weight in childhood, and healthcare utilization factors.
Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA. Monica.Mitchell@cchmc.org
Monica J
MJ
Mitchell
Gloria J O
GJ
Carpenter
Lori E
LE
Crosby
Chanelle T
CT
Bishop
Janelle
J
Hines
Jennie
J
Noll
D000293:Adolescent; D041923:Adolescent Development; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000886:Anthropometry; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D013851:Thinness / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology