Standards for the predictive accuracy of short term body height and lower leg length measurements on half annual growth rates

Abstract

Determinations of body height and calculations of growth velocity are still the major parameters for the assessment of normal and aberrant growth. The present study was performed to investigate the minimum time interval between consecutive measurements that is necessary for a statement on significant length increment both of total body height and lower leg length. We present standards for the predictive accuracy of short term measurements for the prediction of the conventional half annual growth rate. We also provide centiles of the predictive error that occurs when the difference between two consecutive measurements is used to determine a half annual growth rate.