Growth charts for Chinese Down syndrome children from birth to 14 years.
OBJECTIVE
To establish Down syndrome (DS)-specific growth charts for Hong Kong Chinese children.


METHODS
Growth data were collected from (1) members of the Hong Kong Down Syndrome Association (cross-sectional); (2) DS children attending special schools or living in residential homes (cross-sectional); and (3) the paediatric departments of seven public hospitals (retrospective).


METHODS
425 DS children (57% males and 43% females) born in 1977-2000, yielding 4987 observations.


METHODS
The LMS method was used to construct reference centile curves of weight, height, body mass index (BMI) from birth until 14 years and head circumference for the first 4 years.


RESULTS
The median birth length was 49.8 cm and height at age 14 was 146.7 cm for DS boys. Corresponding figures for DS girls were 49.5 and 142.1 cm. The median birth weight was 3.0 kg for DS boys and 2.9 kg for DS girls. At age 14, 26% DS boys (BMI >22.6 kg/m(2)) and 12% DS girls (BMI >23.3 kg/m(2)) were overweight. The median head circumference at birth was 32.8 cm for boys and 32.0 cm for girls.


CONCLUSIONS
Chinese DS children had a shorter stature, lower weight and tendency to be overweight than local non-DS children. Their growth patterns differed from those of Chinese DS children in Taiwan, and DS children in the USA and Sweden. Growth retardation was most salient during the first year of life.
School of Public Health and Primary Care, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PR China Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen 518057, PR China.
Xuefen
X
Su
School of Public Health and Primary Care, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PR China Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen 518057, PR China.
Joseph Tak Fai
JT
Lau
Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Hong Kong, PR China.
Chak Man
CM
Yu
Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Princess Margaret Hospital, Hong Kong, PR China.
Chun Bong
CB
Chow
Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Princess Margaret Hospital, Hong Kong, PR China.
Lai Ping
LP
Lee
Department of Paediatrics, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong, PR China.
Betty Wai Man
BW
But
Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital, Hong Kong, PR China.
Winnie Ka Ling
WK
Yam
Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Caritas Medical Centre, Hong Kong, PR China.
Philomena Wan Ting
PW
Tse
Department of Paediatrics, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong, PR China.
Eva Lai Wah
EL
Fung
The Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PR China.
Kai Chow
KC
Choi
D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods*; D044466:Asian People; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D057238:Growth Charts; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values
Chinese children; Down Syndrome; growth charts