Cross-sectional study of height and weight in the population of Andalusia from age 3 to adulthood

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background and objectives</p> <p>In Andalusia there were no studies including a representative sample of children and adolescent population assessing growth and weight increase. Our objectives were to develop reference standards for weight, height and BMI for the Andalusian pediatric population, from 3 to 18 years of age for both genders, and to identify the final adult height in Andalusia.</p> <p>Subjects and methods</p> <p>Two samples were collected. The first included individuals from 3 to 18 years of age (3592 girls and 3605 boys). They were stratified according type of study center, size of population of origin, age (32 categories of 0.5 years) and gender, using cluster sampling. Subjects from >18 to 23 years of age (947 women and 921 men) were sampled in 6 non-university educational centers and several university centers in Granada. Exclusion criteria included sons of non-Spanish mother or father, and individuals with chronic conditions and/or therapies affecting growth. Two trained fellows collected the data through February to December 2004, for the first sample, and through January to May 2005, for the second.</p> <p>Reference curves were adjusted using Cole's LMS method, and the quality of the adjustment was assessed using the tests proposed by Royston. In addition, a sensitivity analysis was applied to the final models obtained.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Data for 9065 cases (4539 women and 4526 men) were obtained; 79.39% (n = 7197) in the up to 18 years of age group. In the first sampling only 0.07% (3 girls and 2 boys) refused to participate in the study. In addition, 327 students (4.5%) were absent when sampling was done. We present mean and standard deviation fort height, weight and BMI at 0.5 years intervals, from 3 to 23 years of age, for both genders. After adjustment with the different models, percentiles for height, weight (percentiles 3, 5, 10, 25, 50, 75, 90, 95, and 97) and BMI (percentiles 3, 5, 50, 85, 95, and 97) are presented for both genders.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This is the first study in Andalusia with a representative sample from the child-juvenile population to investigate weight, height and BMI in subjects from 3 to 23 years of age. The great variability observed in the values from sample of 18 to 23 years of age individuals, ensures the inclusion of extreme values, although random sampling was not used. There still is a lack of standard reference values for the Andalusian population younger done 3 years of age.</p

Health-related Quality of Life in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Pediatric Patients and Their Caregivers in Spain: An Observational Cross-Sectional Study

Objectives: This study assessed the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and their caregivers.Methods: CHRYSTAL was an observational cross-sectional study conducted in Spain in 2014 on 275 patients under 18 years old diagnosed with T1DM. Patient/caregiver pairs were stratified by patients' HbA1c level (?7.5% versus <7.5%) and by presence or absence of T1DM complications and/or comorbidities. EQ-5D and PedsQL questionnaires were administered to patients and caregivers.Results: On the EQ-5D, according to caregivers' perception, 17.7% of children experienced moderate pain or discomfort, 9.7% suffered problems performing usual activities, and 13.2% demonstrated moderate anxiety or depression. Mean EQ-5D index score was 0.95 and mean visual analog scale (VAS) score was 86.1. By HbA1c level (?7.5% versus <7.5%), mean index scores were 0.94 and 0.95, and mean VAS scores were 82.8 and 89.2, respectively. Mean index scores were 0.91 for children with complications and/or comorbidities and 0.96 for children without. Mean VAS scores were 83.7 and 87.2, respectively. HRQOL per the PedsQL tool ranged from 68.1 (ages 2-4) to 73.1 (ages 13-18). EQ-5D index and VAS scores were significantly correlated (rho = 0.29-0.43) with several age groups of the PedsQL. EQ-5D scales showed significant moderate correlation between EQ-5D-Y and EQ-5D-3L proxy VAS score (rho = 0.45; p < .001).Conclusions: Patients with few complications and controlled HbA1c reported a relatively high HRQOL. The results suggest that parent-proxy EQ-5D ratings are valid for use as part of an overall health outcomes assessment in clinical studies of T1DM in pediatric patients

A follow-up study to monitor adult height among Spanish children with growth hormone deficiency who received biosimilar human recombinant growth hormone (Omnitrope®) during a phase III clinical trial

An initial Phase III clinical trial has evaluated the efficacy and safety of biosimilar recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH; Omnitrope(®), Sandoz) in Spanish children with growth hormone deficiency (GHD). At the end of the study, those patients still growing were offered to remain on treatment (as in usual clinical practice), and continued to be monitored. The aim of this study was to determine the adult height achieved by the Spanish children who participated in the initial Phase III clinical trial, and to evaluate the long-term safety of rhGH treatment. This study was a multicenter, observational, retrospective follow-up study of patients who participated in the Phase III clinical trial (70 patients recruited). Auxological parameters [including height, height velocity, and their associated height standard deviation scores (HSDS)] were obtained from 39 patients. Safety was assessed by recording any adverse events (AEs). In total, 27 men and 12 women provided auxological data. At the start of the follow-up study, the mean age of the patients was 12.5 ± 2.7 years, mean height was 144.8 ± 13.9 cm and mean HSDS was -1.16 ± 0.63. By the end of the follow-up period, mean height had increased to 163.1 ± 7.6 cm (n = 36; men 165.5 ± 7.8 cm, women 157.6 ± 3.2 cm) and mean HSDS also increased to -1.01 ± 0.59 (n = 36; men -1.07 ± 0.52, women -0.86 ± 0.72). In terms of safety, no treatment-related AEs were reported during the study. This cohort of Spanish patients with GHD showed a positive response to rhGH treatment, achieving adult height within the local normal ranges. In addition, rhGH treatment was well tolerated, with no new or additional safety concerns

Síndrome de Noonan: actualización genética, clínica y de opciones terapéuticas

El síndrome de Noonan (SN) es una enfermedad de origen genético relativamente frecuente cuyas manifestaciones fundamentales son la talla baja, la cardiopatía congénita y un fenotipo facial característico. La causa del síndrome de Noonan y de otras enfermedades clínicamente solapadas como el síndrome de Noonan con lentiginosis múltiple (anteriormente llamado síndrome LEOPARD), el cardiofaciocutáneo o el síndrome de Costello, son mutaciones en genes que codifican para proteínas de la vía de señalización de las RAS-MAPKinasas. Debido a este sustrato común este grupo de enfermedades son denominadas colectivamente «rasopatías». A pesar de los avances genéticos de las últimas décadas, cerca de 20% de pacientes no tienen causa genética identificada, y el diagnóstico sigue siendo clínico. El síndrome de Noonan se caracteriza por una alta heterogeneidad clínica y genética, con afectación variable, y cambiante con la edad, de múltiples órganos y sistemas. Debido a esta variabilidad es fundamental que los médicos involucrados en su cuidado estén familiarizados con sus manifestaciones y conozcan las recomendaciones de seguimiento, incluido el seguimiento del crecimiento y desarrollo. Hasta la fecha los escasos datos de crecimiento con GH a talla adulta dan resultados de ganancia de talla moderados, semejantes a los obtenidos en el síndrome de Turner. La hiperactivación de la vía RAS-MAPK como base común de esta familia de enfermedades brinda una oportunidad única para el desarrollo de tratamientos dirigidos a la etiología de estos trastornos. Noonan syndrome (NS) is a relatively common genetic condition characterised by short stature, congenital heart defects, and distinctive facial features. NS and other clinically overlapping conditions such as NS with multiple lentigines (formerly called LEOPARD syndrome), cardiofaciocutaneous syndrome, or Costello syndrome, are caused by mutations in genes encoding proteins of the RAS-MAPKinases pathway. Because of this shared mechanism, these conditions have been collectively termed «RASopathies». Despite the recent advances in molecular genetics, nearly 20% of patients still lack a genetic cause, and diagnosis is still made mainly on clinical grounds. NS is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous condition, with variable expressivity and a changing phenotype with age, and affects multiple organs and systems. Therefore, it is essential that physicians involved in the care of these patients are familiarised with their manifestations and the management recommendations, including management of growth and development. Data on growth hormone treatment efficacy are sparse, and show a modest response in height gains, similar to that observed in Turner syndrome. The role of RAS/MAPK hyper-activation in the pathophysiology of this group of disorders offers a unique opportunity for the development of targeted approaches

Social economic costs of type 1 diabetes mellitus in pediatric patients in Spain: CHRYSTAL observational study

AIMS: To estimate the social-economic costs of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) in patients aged 0-17 years in Spain from a social perspective. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional observational study in 2014 of 275 T1DM pediatric outpatients distributed across 12 public health centers in Spain. Data on demographic and clinical characteristics, healthcare utilization and informal care were collected from medical records and questionnaires completed by clinicians and patients' caregivers. RESULTS: A valid sample of 249 individuals was analyzed. The average annual cost for a T1DM patient was €27,274. Direct healthcare costs were €4070 and direct non-healthcare cost were €23,204. Informal (familial) care represented 83% of total cost, followed by medical material (8%), outpatient and primary care visits (3.1%) and insulin (2.1%). Direct healthcare cost per patient statistically differed by glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) level [mean cost €4704 in HbA1c ?7.5% (?58mmol/mol) group vs. €3616 in HbA1c<7.5% (<58mmol/mol) group)]; and by the presence or absence of complications and comorbidities (mean cost €5713 in group with complications or comorbidities vs. €3636 in group without complications or comorbidities). CONCLUSIONS: T1DM amongst pediatric patients incurs in considerable societal costs. Informal care represents the largest cost category

Riesgos metabólicos del consumo excesivo de bebidas con azúcares refinados.

English Abstract; Journal Article;La prevalencia de obesidad y de diabetes tipo 2 ha aumentado enormemente en las últimas décadas hasta convertirse en una epidemia amenazante. El listado de factores de riesgo es amplio, pero lo encabeza el cambio del estilo de vida (alimentación y actividad física) que constituye, además, la herramienta preventiva más importante. El trabajo de Caravalí-Meza y cols. en este número de la revista hace hincapié en el consumo de bebidas azucaradas y su relación con la obesidad. Sus autores concluyen que el consumo de azúcares refinados de las bebidas en adolescentes mexicanos, conlleva un riesgo de incremento del perímetro de la cintura y, en el caso de mantenerse, también del índice de masa corporal.Ye

Eficacia y seguridad del tratamiento sustitutivo en el déficit aislado de hormona del crecimiento.

Growth in patients with isolated growth hormone (GH) deficiency is heterogeneous despite treatment due to the low specificity of diagnostic tests, making it necessary to define efficacy variables. To evaluate efficacy of hormone replacement therapy in children with isolated GH deficiency. Observational-ambispective study of patients treated in our department in the last 14 years for isolated GH deficiency. This was defined as a GH level less than 7.4mg/dl in response to 2 stimulation tests in patients with height The study included a total 97 patients, of whom 69% were boys. The large majority (89.58%) achieved final height. None of them had side effects. The median dose of GH used was 0.028mg/kg/day (0.03-0.025). There was a gain of 1.17 SD in final height. Around three-quarters (71.13%) of the patients were reassessed in adulthood, of whom 39.4% maintained the deficiency, and 79.31% achieved target range height. Target height, estimated height, and the total pubertal gain were positively correlated with final height, while the bone age/chronological age ratio and the initial insulin-like growth factor-1 showed a negative correlation. A majority of patients reached target size, although only a few of them maintained the deficiency in adulthood. Target size, estimated adult height, and pubertal variables are directly related to adult height, while bone age/chronological age and insulin-like growth factor-1 were inversely related, and these can be used as efficacy variables. No adverse effects were observed in the sample with the doses used for the treatment

Ten years' clinical experience with biosimilar human growth hormone: a review of efficacy data

In 2006, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved Omnitrope(®) as a biosimilar recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH), on the basis of comparable quality, safety, and efficacy to the reference medicine (Genotropin(®), Pfizer). Data continue to be collected on the long-term efficacy of biosimilar rhGH from several on-going postapproval studies. Particular topics of interest include efficacy in indications granted on the basis of extrapolation, and whether efficacy of growth hormone treatment is affected when patients are changed to biosimilar rhGH from other rhGH products. Data from clinical development studies and 10 years of postapproval experience affirm the clinical efficacy and effectiveness of biosimilar rhGH across all approved indications. In addition, the decade of experience with biosimilar rhGH since it was approved in Europe confirms the scientific validity of the biosimilar pathway and the approval process. Concerns about clinical effect in extrapolated indications, and also about the impact of changing from other rhGH preparations, have been alleviated. Biosimilar rhGH is an effective treatment option for children who require therapy with rhGH.Funded by Sandoz GmbHYe