title: Factors associated with post-menarcheal growth: results of a longitudinal study in Chilean girls from different socioeconomic statuses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Menarche is the last stage of pubertal development, which coincides, with the completion of longitudinal growth. Our aim was to evaluate, post-menarcheal growth and clinical variables proposed to be associated with this growth.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective fashion, 106 healthy girls attending five different socioeconomic status (SES) schools of Santiago were randomly recruited. A pediatric endocrinologist obtained anthropometrics and registration of date at menarche every 6 months. The evolution of the girls' heights was assessed through mixed models adjusted to the SESes, parental height and body mass index (BMI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-three girls from a high socioeconomic status (HSS) and 50 from a low socioeconomic status (LSS) were followed. Four years post menarche, the girls reached a growth plateau and the average height gain was 5.2±2.5 cm. This gain was not associated with SES, BMI, nor with parental height (p=0.744). The only variable that modulated this gain was age at menarche (r=-0.1997, p=0.0332). There was an inverse correlation between height at the moment of menarche and the height reached after 4 years of follow-up adjusted to parental height (r=-0302, p=0.0011).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Post-menarcheal growth ends 4 years post-event and is inversely correlated with the age at menarche and with the height at the moment of menarche independent of BMI, parental height and SES.
authors.forename: Ximena
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gaete
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Unanue
authors.forename: Ethel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Codner
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cavada
authors.forename: Verónica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mericq
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D041923:Adolescent Development; D000367:Age Factors; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002677:Chile; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008572:Menarche / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000502:physiology*; D012923:Social Class