The DATAC study: a new growth database. Description of the epidemiology, diagnosis and therapeutic attitude in a group of Spanish children with short stature.

BACKGROUND: Recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) availability has allowed the treatment of a greater number of growth disorders. It is important to get an insight into the clinical characteristics of the paediatric population before rhGH treatment.
METHODS: An observational, retrospective and multicentre study was conducted to evaluate the patients' baseline characteristics prior to rhGH therapy.
RESULTS: A total of 1404 patients (53.8% males) aged 0.5-17.3 years were included. Clinical conditions were as follows: GH deficiency (GHD), 66.0%; small for gestational age (SGA), 29.7%; and Turner syndrome (TS), 4.3%. Male gender was predominant in most growth disorders; age at diagnosis was higher in GHD patients; therapy with rhGH started at lower chronological age in SGA and TS groups.
CONCLUSION: The baseline characteristics of the population to be treated with rhGH were similar to those reported in other growth databases. Delayed age at treatment initiation should increase the awareness of these disorders among general paediatricians and entice them to refer children suspected of having these disorders to a specialist.