Longitudinal pubertal growth according to age at pubertal growth spurt onset: data from a Spanish study including 458 children (223 boys and 235 girls).
BACKGROUND
Age at pubertal growth spurt (PGS) onset varies and is sex-dependent. We present anthropometric pubertal growth data for five 1-year interval age maturity groups: very early, early, intermediate, late and very late.


METHODS
Longitudinal growth study of 458 healthy children (223 boys, 235 girls). Ages at PGS onset and at adult height attainment, total pubertal growth (TPG), and peak height velocity (PHV) were evaluated. PGS begins between the ages of 10 and 15 in boys and 8 and 13 in girls; children were allocated to the corresponding 1-year interval age maturity group.


RESULTS
For each sex, the earlier the start of PGS onset, the higher were PHV and TPG gain. However, adult heights were similar among the five pubertal maturity groups. Height SDS values for mean values of the very early, early, late and very late maturity groups calculated according to data from the five pubertal maturity groups taken together as a single group differed from zero in both sexes, mainly during the pubertal years for the very early (> +1) and very late (> -1) maturers. These differences disappeared at adult height.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data might contribute to better clinical evaluation of pubertal growth according to individual pubertal maturity tempo.
Pediatric Service and Endocrinology Unit, Children's Hospital Miguel Servet and Andrea Prader Growth and Development Center, Zaragoza, Spain.
Angel
A
Ferrández
Antonio
A
Carrascosa
Laura
L
Audí
Luis
L
Baguer
Carmen
C
Rueda
Juan
J
Bosch-Castañé
Miquel
M
Gussinyé
Diego
D
Yeste
José Ignacio
JI
Labarta
Esteban
E
Mayayo
Mónica
M
Fernández-Cancio
Maria A
MA
Albisu
María
M
Clemente
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011627:Puberty / Q000502:physiology*; D013030:Spain