66 DEVELOPMENT OF A SOFTWARE PROGRAM PROVIDING A DATA BASE AND ENABLING MATHEMATICAL HANDLING AND GRAPHICAL PRESENTATION OF GROWTH DATA

Abstract

A computer software program was developed aimed at three goals; to enable a retrospective or prospective analysis over one or more centers of the data proceeding from the diagnostic work-up and clinical follow-up of children with growth disturbances; 2: to transform the most common growth parameters as a function of the references for age and bone age; 3: to enable graphical representation of raw and transformed growth data. The database enables the storage and retrieval of administrative, clinical and laboratory data. Patients can be grouped into various study groups which all have their own specific data entry screens. In case of growth hormone therapy the weekly dosage per kg body weight and m2 body surface are calculated. The mathematical part expresses height, sitting height and subischial leg length as SDS for age and bone age. Weight is expressed as a percentage of the median for height. From bone age readings height predictions are calculated with the TW-2 and Greulich-Pyle method. Height velocities are calculated between chosen dates of observation and expressed as cm/year, SDS for age or bone age and as the change of height SDS per year. The transformed growth data can be further used in reference to various periods of growth hormone treatment. All raw and transformed growth data can be shown graphically. The software program works on a microcomputer with multicolor screen and a mathematical coprocessor, using dbase III+/Clipper.