Height/Length and Weight Growth Curves and Growth References of Children Aged 0 - 7 in Chongqing by GAMLSS

Qian Chen,Kaocong Tian,Zhaohai Liu,Jiaxiu Liu

doi:10.4236/health.2020.122007

Abstract

Aim: Using the generalised additive model for location, the scale and shape (GAMLSS), the standard of height (length), weight and percentage curve of children were formulated to understand the growth law in Chongqing and to provide a reference for clinical and preventive health care work of paediatrics in West China. Methods: Data were collected from the health clinic dataset of children aged 0 - 7 years in the Department of Child Health Care of a Third-Class A hospital in Chongqing from 2010 to 2017. By applying the GAMLSS technology and taking D(μ, σ, ν, τ) as the specific distribution form, BCT as the link function, P-spline function and cubic splines function as the smoothing function, the unit value of age-specific standard deviation of height (length) and weight were obtained, and the percentile map was drawn. Results: Based on the principle of minimum AIC and SBC values, BCT distribution was chosen as the model of the link function. Fitting results of height (length) and weight parameters of boys and girls, standard deviation tables of age and percentile curves were obtained. Conclusions: This study was an exploration of using GAMLSS method to establish a reference value range in the field of children’s growth and development in China. It could supplement the relevant data of Chongqing area for Reference standard for growth and development of children under 7 years of age in China, and also provide a reference for the rational diagnosis of children’s short stature and malnutrition in Chongqing.

Highlights

Height and weight are the most important indicators reflecting on children’s growth, nutrition and health, and the growth curve is the most useful means of growth detection and evaluation [1]
Since the growth data are usually non-normal distribution [4], the GAMLSS (Generalised additive model for location, the scale and shape) model was used in this study to fit the height and weight data of children in Chongqing to understand the present situation of children’s growth and development
When WHO revised the WHO Guidelines for Children’s Growth and Development in 2009 [2], the research group had hoped to explore the application of GAMLSS technology in standard-setting based on the LMS method but failed to achieve it

Summary

Introduction

Height and weight are the most important indicators reflecting on children’s growth, nutrition and health, and the growth curve is the most useful means of growth detection and evaluation [1]. In 2009, the National Health Planning Committee of China issued the “Reference standard for growth and development of children under 7 years of age in China” (hereinafter referred to as “2009 Standards”), mainly through the data of “Investigation on Physical Development of Children under 7 Years Old in Nine Cities of China in 2005” (data from province of Beijing, Harbin, Xi’an, Shanghai, Nanjing, Wuhan, Guangzhou, Fuzhou and Kunming) to plot the standardised growth curve [3]. Since the growth data are usually non-normal distribution [4], the GAMLSS (Generalised additive model for location, the scale and shape) model was used in this study to fit the height (length) and weight data of children in Chongqing to understand the present situation of children’s growth and development. The standard of height (length) and weight and percentile curves for children in Chongqing was drawn to provide more precise and practical references for clinical health care and scientific research

Objectives

Methods

Conclusion