A cluster systematic sampling survey of the body height distribution profile and the prevalence of short stature of urban and surburban children aged from 6 to 18 years in Shanghai

Objective The aim of the current study was to investigate the body height distribution profile and prevalence of short stature of children and adolescents aged from 6 to 18 years in Shanghai.Methods One urban district and one suburban district in Shanghai were selected. 70 431 children and adolescents aged from 6 to 18 years were recruited. Body heights were measured and were evaluated using a local growth standard. Short stature was defined as the body height was two standard deviation below the mean body height in each sex matched age group. The prevalence of short stature was calculated and standarized using the local population data.Results ①The mean body heights in boys were (153.33±17.93) cm and those in girls were (149.75±14.50) cm. Body heights were significantly higher in boys than that in girls (P0.000 1). ②There existed triple phases character about the growth profile in Shanghai children and adolescents. The boy′s heights were higher than those of girls between age 6 to 9 years, girl′s growth spurt appeared after 10 years old and the body heights were higher than those of boys between age 10 to 11 years, and finally boy′s heights were higher than those of girl′s between age 12 and 18 years. The body heights of boys nearly stoped increasing after 16 years old while the heights in girls stoped increasing after 15 years old. ③The body heights of children in Shanghai were higher than the average values of the national growth charts. The heights in each group of urban boys increased by (6.4±2.1) cm and suburban boy′s heights increased by (10.5±2.5) cm between 2003 and 1975, while the heights in each group of urban girls increased by (4.8±0.9) cm and suburban girl′s heights increased by (8.6±1.9) cm in the same time. However, the heights in each group of urban boys only increased by (0.8±1.2) cm(-0.1-3.1 cm) and suburban boy′s heights increased (3.5±0.9) cm(2.2-5.6 cm) between 2003 and 1995, the heights in each group of urban girls increased by (0.7±1.0) cm(-0.3-2.8 cm) and suburban girl′s heights increased (3.3±0.9) cm(2.1-5.4 cm) in the same period. ④The overall short stature crude morbidity rate (CMR) was 3.77%, and the standardized morbidity rate (SMR) was 3.26%,the rate was significantly higher in boys than that in girls. The short stature CMR in urban area was 2.78%, and the SMR was 2.57%,the rate was significantly lower in urban area than that in suburban area (CMR 4.51%, SMR 3.75%).The short stature prevalence was higher before 14 years old.Conclusions The growth profile in Shanghai children and adolescents showed triple phases character. Boys′heights were higher than those of girls′ among age from 6 to 9 years and from 12 to 18 years, while the girls′s heights were higher than those of boys′ between age 10 to 11 years. The body heights in Shanghai children and adolescents were higher than those of the national survey results, there existed a significant height increase between 1975 and 2003 in all age groups. The heights continued to increase between 1995 and 2003 in Shanghai suburban children and adolescents, however the body heights increased little in urban children and adolescents. The overall short stature standardized morbidity rate was 3.26%, the rate was significantly lower in urban area than that in suburban area. The overall SMR was significantly lower than that of other developing countries. Future targeted etiology study may disclose the pathogenesis of short stature in Shanghai, and may be beneficial for establishing proper intervention measures for short stature children and adolescents.