Extended growth charts for Indian children

Abstract

Objectives: While growth charts depicting 7 percentile lines for height and weight are useful for healthcare workers and pediatricians, endocrinologists need indication-specific z score cutoffs to plan investigations and treatment. The current Indian charts do not offer lower percentile/z scores (−2.25, −2.5, and −3 z score) lines. Also, increasing prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity necessitates a quick screening of nutritional status without calculations while using the same growth chart. Our objectives were to produce extended and user-friendly growth charts for 0-18-year-old Indian children that depict −2.25, −2.5, and −3 z score height lines in addition to the standard 7 lines and to add a quick BMI assessment tool as an inset. Methods: LMS values from IAP 2015 growth charts (5-18 years) and WHO 2006 MGRS charts (<5 years) were used to generate −2.25, −2.5, and −3 z score height lines (1.2, 0.6, and 0.1 percentiles, respectively) from 0-18 year for boys and girls. These newly generated lines were added to standard 7 (3, 10, 25, 50, 75, 90, 97) percentile lines for height charts. In addition, modified BMI quick screening tool was incorporated as an inset. Results: The extended height charts (with 10 lines), standard (7 lines) weight charts, and quick BMI assessment tool are presented in a single unified chart for use by endocrinologists. Conclusions: These charts will help in defining specific height z score cutoffs as well as screen for overweight and obesity without any calculations in Asian Indian children.