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Updated J apanese growth references for infants and preschool children, based on historical, ethnic and environmental characteristics
Author(s) -
Kato Noriko,
Takimoto Hidemi,
Yokoyama Tetsuji,
Yokoya Susumu,
Tanaka Toshiaki,
Tada Hiroshi
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
acta paediatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/apa.12587
Subject(s) - head circumference , percentile , ethnic group , medicine , circumference , demography , census , pediatrics , cephalometry , birth weight , statistics , environmental health , pregnancy , population , anthropology , mathematics , genetics , geometry , orthodontics , sociology , biology
Aim To provide updated growth references for J apanese children from birth to 6 years of age, for use in both growth monitoring and child care. Methods We analysed data from two national representative surveys that provided cross‐sectional data on 3000 areas in the 2005 national census and longitudinal data from 136 hospitals. Growth references for length/height, weight, head circumference and chest circumference were constructed using the lambda‐mu‐sigma ( LMS ) method, with estimates of the L , M and S parameters. These updated values were then compared with growth references published by the W orld H ealth O rganization. Results The 3rd, 50th and 97th smoothed percentile values of length/height, weight, head circumference and chest circumference for boys and girls from birth to 6 years are presented. The comparisons show some large differences in median measurements between the charts. Conclusion Our growth references are based on a current, nationally representative sample of Japanese children. The results provide deep insight into child growth from a historical, ethnic and environmental point of view.