Effect of Pubertal Timing Differences on Classification of Shortness and Tallness

Pubertal staging is known to distort anthropometric parameters of current growth reference curves based on chronologic age. Because pubertal development is not typically considered, these reference curves can misclassify children, leading to unnecessary investigations or therapeutic interventions or a missed opportunity to intervene that could optimize final height.

Using cross-sectional U.S. health survey data, researchers analyzed differences between height z scores adjusted for Tanner stage and chronologic age (TSA_HAZ) and height z scores adjusted for chronologic age only (CA_HAZ) for non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, and Mexican-American U.S. children aged 8 to 18 years, who were transitioning through puberty. Use of TSA_HAZ versus C…