SMALL-FOR-GESTATIONAL-AGE ASSOCIATED WITH SHORT STATURE DURING ADOLESCENCE

This study examined the relationship between intrauterine growth retar dation and adolescent stature in a sample of 1510 White subjects (754 males and 756 females) who were evaluated at birth and at the ages of 15, 16, and 17 years. The subjects were classified into two groups bas ed on birthweight, small for gestational age (SGA) and appropriate for gestational age (AGA), corresponding respectively to values below the 10th, and between the 11th and 99th, percentiles of gestational age a nd sex. Results showed that boys and girls born prematurely (gestation al age < 37 weeks of gestation) attained the same stature as those bor n at full term (>37 weeks of gestation). In contrast, those born SGA w ere significantly shorter than their counterparts born AGA. The averag e reduction in stature was 4.9 cm for males and 2.9 cm for females. Wh en the analysis included adjustments for parental stature (and adolesc ent's age at menarche for females), the average reduction in stature e qualed about 3.5 cm for males and 2.0 cm for females. It is thus concl uded that the stature deficit reflects a reduction in growth rate rath er than delay in maturation. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.