The Evaluation and Followup of Children Referred to Pediatric Endocrinologists for Short Stature
Author(s) -
David Wyatt,
KatrinaL Parker,
StephenF Kemp,
Jane L. Chiang,
D. Aaron Davis
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
international journal of pediatric endocrinology/international journal of pediatric endocrinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1687-9856
pISSN - 1687-9848
DOI - 10.1186/1687-9856-2010-652013
Subject(s) - medicine , short stature , pediatrics , idiopathic short stature , pediatric endocrinology , endocrinology , growth hormone , hormone
Objective. To characterize the pediatric endocrinologists' evaluation and followup of short-statured patients. Study Design. Observational study of 21,548 short-statured children (April 1996 to December 1999). Baseline demographics, laboratory testing, height standard deviation score (SDS), target height, and height relative to target height were analyzed at initial and return visits with the specialist. Patients were scheduled for at least one return visit and no recombinant human growth hormone therapy was administered. Results. Mean patient age was 8.6 years with a mean height SDS of . Patients were predominantly male (69%), prepubertal (73%), and white (76%). Few screening tests were obtained during initial evaluation. Nearly 40% of children did not return for their second scheduled visit. The follow-up rate was unrelated to demographics or degree of short stature. Conclusions. Low return rates limit specialists' ability to monitor growth or obtain laboratory testing over time. Further studies are needed to determine which tests should be obtained at the initial clinic visit as well as the basis for the low return rate in this group of children.
Open Access