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- Title
Larger head circumference in Icelandic children 0-4 years of age compared to the World Health Organization and Swedish growth charts.
- Authors
Juliusson, Petur B.; Dagbjartsson, Atli; Roelants, Mathieu; Palsson, Gestur; Fridjonsdottir, Hildigunnur; Einarsdottir, Rosa; Thorsson, Arni V.
- Abstract
<bold>Aim: </bold>The World Health Organization (WHO) published universal growth standards for children below five year of age in 2006. Traditionally, Swedish growth references have been used to monitor growth of children in Iceland, but it is not yet known how they compare with these reference charts.<bold>Methods: </bold>A total of 2128 longitudinal measurements of length or height, 2132 of weight and 2126 of head circumference between birth and four years of age were collected in 1996-2000 from 199 healthy children (53% boys) recruited at Landspitali University Hospital. Measurements were converted to z-scores using the WHO growth standards and Swedish growth references for further analysis with mixed-effects models.<bold>Results: </bold>Length or height, weight and in particular head circumference largely exceeded the WHO standards, with average z-scores that fluctuated between 0.5 and 1.5. Likewise, the proportion of children with a z-score larger than 2 SD increased about 10-fold. Icelandic children were longer and heavier than their Swedish peers during the first six months of life, but differences were less pronounced thereafter.<bold>Conclusion: </bold>The growth of Icelandic children deviated significantly from the WHO growth standards. Although more comparable to the Swedish references, significant differences were found, suggesting that a national growth reference would be more appropriate.
- Subjects
ICELAND; SWEDEN; WORLD Health Organization; WORLD health; GROWTH of children; LENGTH measurement; HEAD growth; UNIVERSITY hospitals; STATURE; BODY weight; WEIGHTS &; measures; ICELANDERS
- Publication
Acta Paediatrica, 2020, Vol 109, Issue 6, p1184
- ISSN
0803-5253
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.1111/apa.15103