The height target prediction by the Tanner method infra evaluates the final height in youths from the rural area of South East Spain

Abstract

Assessing the final height of an individual before the end of the growth has clinical utility for monitoring child health. To calculate the target height of a rural population in Southeast Spain and to compare it with the final height. A descriptive observational study was performed. 50 young adults were included in the study (44% men) along with 100 biological parents. The selection of young adults was conducted in 2 phases: 1. Retrospective study based on medical records. 2. recruitment and anthropometric measurements. Target size and the size deviation were calculated. The final height was 4.44 cm and 6.37cm higher than the expected target height for men and for women, respectively (p<0.001). (p<0.001). The genetic influence differed between males and females, while the final height for males was associated with the paternal height (r = 0.613, p <0.01), for females, no significant association with the height of the father or the mother was found. The age of the greater correlation with the final height was at 10 ys for boys (r = 0.819) and at 14 ys for girls (r = 0.959). The males' final obesity degree correlated with the father's BMI (r = 0.575, p <0.01) and for girls, with the mother's (r = 0.451, p <0.05). The target height formula underestimates the final size of individuals. It could be useful to perform an anthropometric study at 10 ys in boys and at 14 ys in girls in order to prevent further alterations in size or weight.