Post-menarcheal growth in a cohort of brazilian girls

The purpose of this paper was to assess post-menarcheal growth in a cohort of Brazilian girls and correlate it with the age, stature and BMI at menarche. Records of the age, weight, and stature at menarche, and 5 years later, of 111 girls who attended the Adolescent Unit of the Child Institute - HC - Medical School of the University of São Paulo, were recovered. The median age at menarche was 12.67 years and the mean increase in height was 7.54 ± 3.35cm. The largest span of growth was observed in girls who reached menarche before 12.67 years (r= -0.46; p= 0.0001) and in the ones who had less stature at this moment (r= -0.44; p= 0.0001). The best correlation was observed in girls with stature between p25 and p75 of NCHS reference data (r= -0.72; p= 0.0001). Adolescents with greater BMI had earlier menarche (11.9 years). No correlation was found between BMI and post-menarcheal growth (r= 0). In this cohort, post-menarcheal growth was similar to other studies and correlations offer information to assess the potential of growth after menarche.Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o crescimento pós-menarca em uma coorte de meninas brasileiras, e correlacioná-lo com a idade, estatura e IMC na menarca. Foram resgatados registros da idade, peso e estatura na menarca, e 5 anos após, de 111 meninas matriculadas na Unidade de Adolescentes do Instituto da Criança - HC - FMUSP. A mediana para a menarca foi 12,67 anos e a média de crescimento, 7,54 ± 3,35cm. Cresceram mais as que menstruaram mais cedo (r= -0,46; p= 0,0001) e as que eram mais baixas nesta ocasião (r= -0,44; p= 0,0001). Observou-se melhor correlação nas meninas com estatura entre p25 e p75 do referencial NCHS (r= -0,72; p= 0,0001). As adolescentes com maior IMC menstruaram mais cedo (11,9 anos). Não houve correlação entre o IMC e o crescimento (r= 0). Nesta coorte, o crescimento pós-menarca foi semelhante ao observado em outros estudos e as correlações fornecem informações para avaliar o potencial de crescimento por ocasião da menarca.97197