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Cizmecioglu and colleagues interviewed 200 parents (100
males, 100 females), mean age 37.8 years and ascertained their reported height.
Their actual height was then measured by a single observer using a Harpenden stadiometer.
On average, males overestimated their height, while females reported their
height relatively accurately. However, there was a wide spread of discrepancies
for both sexes. Overall there was a small positive correlation between age and
the difference between reported and measured height. Of interest, subjects who
had been measured previously were less accurate at reporting their height than
those who guessed their height. The mean difference in reported versus measured
height was 1.09 cm for men (range −3.3 to 5.2) and −0.09 for
females (range −6.2 to 6.4). The authors pointed out that there was
considerable individual variation among both sexes in over or under estimating
their exact height and state that their data reinforces the need for accurate
height measurement and recording of both mother and father at the earliest
possible opportunity.
Cizmecioglu F, Doherty A, Paterson WF, Young D, Donaldson MD. Measured versus reported
parental height. Arch Dis Child. 2005;90:941 - 942.
Editor’s Comment: This is a very short paper which
represents some interesting and very important information. It is a relatively
common practice in pediatric endocrine clinics to calculate the mid-parental
height as a target height for the child being evaluated. Clearly it is
important that this target height is calculated correctly. It is not uncommon
for parents to state that they are unaware of their precise height or to report
their height with obvious discrepancy from observation. In addition it is not
uncommon for children to come the clinic with either one or more non-biological
parents, or for information regarding the “no longer present” parent’s height
to be estimated with little precision. The recommendations of the authors of
this study should be taken seriously: parental height should be measured at the
earliest possible time and become part of the child’s permanent medical record.
Such information could be exceedingly helpful in guiding the evaluation and
treatment of children with growth failure at a later date. At the very least,
pediatricians and pediatric endocrinologists should be encouraged to actually
measure parents who accompany their child for evaluation of growth failure.
William L. Clarke, MD
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