Chinese Preschool Children Growth Reference Standard and Related Curve: Based on GAMLSS Approach

Background:

The current national growth and development standard of preschool children in China was formulated in 2003, which has many deficiencies. It is necessary to construct more scientific percentile curve and growth reference standards in order to evaluate more effectively the growth, development and health status of Chinese children.

Methods:

Based on the physical and health data of 31 provinces in China measured in 2010 and 2014, the GAMLSS model was used to construct the growth reference standard and correlation curve.

Results:

We obtained growth reference standards for percentile curve and Z-score curve of height-for-age, sitting height-for-age, Weight-for-age, Chest circumference-for-age of Chinese preschool children. The C50 percentile of all indicators showed an obvious increasing trend with aged 3.0 to 6.5. Such as, the height of boys and girls increased by 21.1cm and 20.3cm respectively, the sitting height boys and girls increased by 10.3cm and 10.1cm respectively, the weight of boys and girls increased by 7.1 kg and 6.3 kg respectively, the Chest circumference of boys and girls increased by 6cm and 5.2 cm respectively.

Conclusion:

The children’s growth and development charts provided in this study provide effective monitoring and personalized evaluation tools for the growth and development assessment of preschool children, as well as for the reduction of malnutrition, prevention and control of childhood obesity. It is recommended to be used in some areas such as child health, medical treatment and public health.

Prevalence and extent of coronary artery calcification in the middle-aged and elderly population

AIMS

Coronary artery calcification (CAC) measured on cardiac computed tomography (CT) is an important risk marker for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and has been included in the prevention guidelines. The aim of this study was to describe CAC score reference values in the middle-aged and elderly population and to develop a freely available CAC calculator.

METHODS AND RESULTS

All participants from two population-based cardiac CT screening cohorts (DanRisk and DANCAVAS) were included. The CAC score was measured as a part of a screening session. Positive CAC scores were log-transformed and non-parametrically regressed on age for each gender, and percentile curves were transposed according to proportions of zero CAC scores. Men had higher CAC scores than women, and the prevalence and extend of CAC increased steadily with age. An online CAC calculator was developed, http://flscripts.dk/cacscore. After entering sex, age, and CAC score, the CAC score percentile and the coronary age are depicted including a figure with the specific CAC score and 25%, 50%, 75%, and 90% percentiles. The specific CAC score can be compared to the entire background population or only those without prior CVD.

CONCLUSION

This study provides modern population-based reference values of CAC scores in men and woman and a freely accessible online CAC calculator. Physicians and patients are very familiar with blood pressure and lipids, but unfamiliar with CAC scores. Using the calculator makes it easy to see if a CAC value is low, moderate, or high, when a physician in the future communicate and discusses a CAC score with a patient.