Factors associated with post-menarcheal growth: results of a longitudinal study in Chilean girls from different socioeconomic statuses.

BACKGROUND

Menarche is the last stage of pubertal development, which coincides, with the completion of longitudinal growth. Our aim was to evaluate, post-menarcheal growth and clinical variables proposed to be associated with this growth.

METHODS

In a prospective fashion, 106 healthy girls attending five different socioeconomic status (SES) schools of Santiago were randomly recruited. A pediatric endocrinologist obtained anthropometrics and registration of date at menarche every 6 months. The evolution of the girls' heights was assessed through mixed models adjusted to the SESes, parental height and body mass index (BMI).

RESULTS

Sixty-three girls from a high socioeconomic status (HSS) and 50 from a low socioeconomic status (LSS) were followed. Four years post menarche, the girls reached a growth plateau and the average height gain was 5.2±2.5 cm. This gain was not associated with SES, BMI, nor with parental height (p=0.744). The only variable that modulated this gain was age at menarche (r=-0.1997, p=0.0332). There was an inverse correlation between height at the moment of menarche and the height reached after 4 years of follow-up adjusted to parental height (r=-0302, p=0.0011).

CONCLUSIONS

Post-menarcheal growth ends 4 years post-event and is inversely correlated with the age at menarche and with the height at the moment of menarche independent of BMI, parental height and SES.