Abstract
BACKGROUND: Height is a strong prognostic factor in cystic fibrosis (CF) and is usually compared to reference values of healthy children by expressing height as a z-score height-for-age (HFA). However, HFA does not take into account a potential delay in bone age (BA) and the genetic potential of the child and could therefore result in misclassification of short stature.
METHODS: In 169 children with CF height, BA and target height (TH) were assessed. HFA, height for bone age (HBA), HFA adjusted for target height (HFA/TH) and HBA adjusted for target height (HFA/TH) were determined and children were categorized according to these four methods.
RESULTS: Mean z-scores of the four methods ranged from -0.1 ± 0.8 (HBA/TH) to -0.5 ± 1.0 (HFA). Prevalence of short stature (z-score <-2 SD) determined by HFA (8%, n=14) was higher than when HBA, HFA/TH (both 5%, n=8) and HBA/TH (1% n=1) were applied.
CONCLUSION: The method used to classify height affects outcome on a group level and for individual patients. Target height and bone age are likely to have added value in the interpretation of height in patients with CF.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 272-277 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Journal of Cystic Fibrosis |
Volume | 10 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jul 2011 |
Keywords
- Adolescent
- Adolescent Development
- Age Factors
- Body Height
- Bone Development
- Child
- Child Development
- Cross-Sectional Studies
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Female
- Growth Charts
- Humans
- Male
- Comparative Study
- Journal Article