Growth curves and adult height estimation for adolescents.

Abstract

Using data from the large number of adolescents studied in cycle III of the National Health Examination Survey, we utilized a sexual maturity index to develop a set of growth curves that reduce the distortion caused by commingling height data from adolescents maturing at different rates. We also created a set of correction tables to be used with these curves to permit the calculation of an adjusted height percentile that compensates for the effects of the differing rates of pubertal maturation. These adjusted height percentiles should remain more constant throughout puberty than height percentiles obtained from traditional growth curves; they may thus be used to estimate final adult height with only data obtained during routine physical examinations, by assuming that subjects maintain their adjusted height percentile through adolescence to adulthood. Height predictions made in this manner compare favorably with predictions made using two clinically tested algorithms.