Etiology of short stature in northern India

Objective. Short stature can be caused by a great variety of congenital and acquired conditions, some of which present with additional symptoms and signs. Overall, the number of patients seeking medical attention for short stature may be considered as the tip of the iceberg. The objective of this study was to determine the pattern and etiological factors of short stature in children. Methodology. A cross-sectional study was carried out in the Department of Endocrinology at a tertiary care health center in north India from August 2012 to June 2015. Four hundred and fifty one children (280 boys and 171 girls), ranging from 4 to 18 years presenting with short stature were studied. Anthropometric measurements were plotted on Indian standard growth charts. Results. In this study, the male to female ratio was found to be 1.6:1, with mean chronological age of 11.6+3.2 years, and mean bone age of 7.8+2.8 years. The common etiologic factors in the order of frequency were constitutional delay in growth and puberty (41.2%), familial short stature (15.9%), type 1 diabetes mellitus (9.9%), and hypothyroidism (8.6%) while growth hormone deficiency (2.4%) was a relatively uncommon cause. The most common pathological cause for proportionate short stature was type 1 diabetes and for disproportionate short stature was hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism caused the maximum retardation of bone age while the least bone age retardation was noticed in familial short stature. Conclusion. Physiological/normal variants outnumbered the pathological causes of short stature. Endocrinological causes were found in almost one fourth of children with short stature; however, growth hormone deficiency was found in only 2.4% of the children.