Growth reference for Saudi preschool children: LMS parameters and percentiles

Abstract

BACKGROUNDPrevious growth charts for Saudi children have not included detailed tables and parameters needed for research and incorporation in electronic records.OBJECTIVESThe objective of this report is to publish the L, M, and S parameters and percentiles as well as the corresponding growth charts for Saudi preschool children.DESIGNCommunity-based survey and measurement of growth parameters in a sample selected by a multistage probability procedure.SETTINGA stratified listing of the Saudi population.SUBJECTS AND METHODSRaw data from the previous nationally-representative sample were reanalyzed using the Lambda-Mu-Sigma (LMS) methodology to calculate the L, M, and S parameters of percentiles (from 3rd to 97th) for weight, length/height, head circumference, and body mass index-for-age, and weight-for-length/height for boys and girls from birth to 60 months.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURESLength or height and weight of Saudi preschool children.RESULTSThere were 15 601 Saudi children younger than 60 months of age, 7896 (50.6 %) were boys. The LMS parameters for weight for age from birth to 60 months (5 years) are reported for the 3rd, 5th, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th, 95th, and 97th percentiles as well as the corresponding graphs. Similarly, the LMS parameters for length/height-for-age, head circumference-for-age, weight-for-length/height and body mass index-for-age (BMI) are shown with the corresponding graphs for boys and girls.CONCLUSIONUsing the data in this report, clinicians and researchers can assess the growth of Saudi preschool children.LIMITATIONSThe report does not reflect interregional variations in growth.