Objetive: To estimate the growth parameters of Peruvian children and adolescents living at different altitudes. Methods: The sample comprised 10 795 Peruvian children and adolescents (5781 girls, aged 6-7 years) from sea level, the Amazon region, and high altitude. Height was measured with standardized techniques. Mathematical and biological growth parameters were estimated using the Preece-Baines growth model I.Results: Sea-level children and adolescents experienced peak height velocity (PHV) at an earlier age (girls, 8.56 ± 2.37 years; boys, 12.03 ± 0.58 years) were taller at the time of PHV (girls, 144.1 ± 1.9 cm; boys, 154.3 ± 1.4 cm), had higher PHV (girls, 6.23 ± 3.87 cm/year; boys, 7.52 ± 2.31 cm/year), and had a taller estimated final height (girls, 154.2 ± 0.3 cm; boys, 166.3 ± 1.0 cm) compared to those living at high altitude (girls, 152.7 ± 0.7 cm; boys, 162.8 ± 0.8 cm) or in the Amazon region (152.1 ± 0.4 cm; boys, 162.2 ± 0.6 cm). Across all geographical areas, PHV occurred approximately 2 years earlier in girls (9.68 ± 0.99 years) than in boys (12.61 ± 0.42 years), their estimated PHV was 5.88 ± 1.92 cm/year vs 6.45 ± 1.09 cm/year, their size at PHV was 142.2 ± 1.4 cm vs 152.8 ± 0.7 cm, and their final adult height was estimated to be 153.1 ± 0.3 cm vs 164.2 ± 0.7 cm. Conclusions: Peruvian children and adolescents' physical growth timing and tempo were influenced by their living altitudes. Those living at sea level experienced an earlier age at PHV were taller at time of PHV, had a higher PHV, and had a taller estimated final height compared to those living at higher altitudes. Girls and boys also differed significantly in their growth parameters.

The purpose of this study was to cross-validate the Beunen-Malina method for non-invasive prediction of adult height. Three hundred and eight boys aged 13, 14, 15 and 16 years from the Madeira Growth Study were observed at annual intervals in 1996, 1997 and 1998 and re-measured 7-8 years later. Height, sitting height and the triceps and subscapular skinfolds were measured; skeletal age was assessed using the Tanner-Whitehouse 2 method. Adult height was measured and predicted using the Beunen-Malina method. Maturity groups were classified using relative skeletal age (skeletal age minus chronological age). Pearson correlations, mean differences and standard errors of estimate (SEE) were calculated. Age-specific correlations between predicted and measured adult height vary between 0.70 and 0.85, while age-specific SEE varies between 3.3 and 4.7 cm. The correlations and SEE are similar to those obtained in the development of the original Beunen-Malina method. The Beunen-Malina method is a valid method to predict adult height in adolescent boys and can be used in European populations or populations from European ancestry. Percentage of predicted adult height is a non-invasive valid method to assess biological maturity.

Apresentamos as curvas médias da distância e velocidade da altura, as idades em que ocorreram os parâmetros do salto pubertário e comparamos os valores obtidos com referências nacionais e internacionais. A amostra contém 280 crianças e adolescentes dos dois sexos que participaram do Projeto Crescer com Saúde no Cariri. Foi utilizado o modelo logístico triplo implementado no software AUXAL. As idades no take-off ocorreram aos 8.8 e 10.3 anos, a altura alcançada foi de 127.3 e 134.0 cm e a velocidade foi de 4.7 cm/ano para ambos os sexos. O pico de velocidade da altura (PVA) ocorreu aos 11.6 anos nas meninas e aos 13.6 anos nos meninos. A altura média alcançada foi de 143.5 e 154.8 cm com uma velocidade de 7.1 e 8.7 cm/ano entre meninas e meninos, respectivamente. As curvas de crescimento da altura das crianças do Cariri mostram um padrão semelhante ao observado em outros estudos. Apesar da defasagem temporal entre o presente estudo e os demais utilizados nas comparações, as idades de ocorrência do PVA, bem como os valores encontrados nos parâmetros do salto pubertário são semelhantes.

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