title: The DATAC study: a new growth database. Description of the epidemiology, diagnosis and therapeutic attitude in a group of Spanish children with short stature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) availability has allowed the treatment of a greater number of growth disorders. It is important to get an insight into the clinical characteristics of the paediatric population before rhGH treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  An observational, retrospective and multicentre study was conducted to evaluate the patients' baseline characteristics prior to rhGH therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1404 patients (53.8% males) aged 0.5-17.3 years were included. Clinical conditions were as follows: GH deficiency (GHD), 66.0%; small for gestational age (SGA), 29.7%; and Turner syndrome (TS), 4.3%. Male gender was predominant in most growth disorders; age at diagnosis was higher in GHD patients; therapy with rhGH started at lower chronological age in SGA and TS groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The baseline characteristics of the population to be treated with rhGH were similar to those reported in other growth databases. Delayed age at treatment initiation should increase the awareness of these disorders among general paediatricians and entice them to refer children suspected of having these disorders to a specialist.
authors.forename: María Dolores
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Rodríguez Arnao
authors.forename: Amparo Rodríguez
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.forename: César
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: García-Rey
authors.forename: Francisco Javier
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Arroyo Díez
authors.forename: Ramón Cañete
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Estrada
authors.forename: Beatriz García
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Cuartero
authors.forename: María Alija
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Merillas
authors.forename: Juan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: López-Siguero
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001827:Body Height; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004392:Dwarfism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age / Q000254:growth & development*; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014424:Turner Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D019382:Human Growth Hormone