Abstract
Parental height represents the most important component of the total variance of height in population groups. The difference (D) between reported (Reh) and actual (Ah) parental height measured at the office were evaluated in a private (Pric) (83 parents) and a public (Pubc) (61 parents) growth clinic. Mean D + SE in Pric was 1,93 ± 0,18 cm., DS 1,21 (P< 0,001) in the mothers, and 1,81 ± 0,22 cm., DS 1,36 (P< 0,001) in the fathers. Differences ranged from −5,0 to 4,4 cm. in mothers and from −6,2 to 1,9 cm in the fathers; 86,0% of mothers and 90,0% of fathers overestimated their own heigth respectively. In Pubc, mean differences were 2,09 + 0,33 cm, DS 2,43 (P< 0,001) in mothers, and 1, 99 + 0,68 cm, DS 1,73 (P < 0,001) in fathers. Differences ranged from −12,2 to 6,7 and −3,8 to 5,9 cm respectively; 66,17% of mothers and 59,1 of fathers overstimated their own heigth. Mean ± SE of differences between father actual heigth and mothers report of fathers were 2, 74 + 0,35, and 2,96 ± 0,69 cm in Pric and Pubc respectively. Correlation coefficients betwen differences Ah-Reh and Ah or between Ah-Reh and parental age were not significant. In the evaluation of patients with growth problems, parental, heigth, when obtained by parents report, must be taken with great caution.
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Lejarraga, H., Laspiur, M. & Adamo, P. VALIDITY OF REPORTED PARENTAL HEIGHT IN TWO GROWTH CLINICS. Pediatr Res 36, 825 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199412000-00039
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199412000-00039