Today's Date: March 29, 2024
Five UBS Financial Advisors in Southern California and Hawaii named Top Women Wealth Advisors by Forbes   •   Segal Unveils 2024 State Employee Health Benefit Study and Interactive Plan Comparison Map Tool   •   Committee for Children Now Offers a PreK-12 Full-Suite Solution with the Highly Anticipated Launch of Second Step® High Scho   •   Naropa University Launches Pioneering Psychedelic Minor     •   Charity Navigator Launches Women's Advocacy List for Women's History Month   •   Navigating Birth Control: Expert Advice from Dr. Bana Kashani, OB-GYN   •   Ministry of Tourism of the Dominican Republic Comes Back to Miami with Its Second Edition Tradeshow   •   World Class Dyslexia, Literacy, and Neuroscience Experts Gather with Educators for Two-Day Professional Learning Event   •   Walmart Connect Announced as Presenting Sponsor of the 2024 WIN Summit   •   Anaergia Announces Delay in the Filing of Its Audited Financial Statements and Related Disclosures   •   101 Mobility® Eden Prairie: Leading the Way in Mobility and Accessibility Solutions   •   University of Phoenix College of Doctoral Studies Highlights Scholarship Published by Working Adult Students and Graduates   •   Unique online yoga platform offers lifeline for menopausal women   •   Anaergia Announces Escrow Closing of Second Tranche of the Strategic Investment   •   e.l.f. Cosmetics Debuts TikTok Shop Super Brand Day   •   AMIGOS FOR KIDS LAUNCHES "THE MISSING REVIEW"   •   Syngenta Group reports $32.2 billion sales and $4.6 billion EBITDA in 2023   •   Navigating Spring Break Sexual Health: Advice from Dr. Deb Laino Sex and Relationship Therapist and Powerful Life Coach   •   Seniors Helping Seniors® In-Home Care Services Expands to North Houston   •   Nicklaus Children's Hospital Achieves Fifth Consecutive Magnet® Recognition
Bookmark and Share

Faltering Growth In Minority Girls Unaddressed

 PHILADELPHIA -- Primary care doctors are less likely to refer short girls than short boys for diagnostic testing that can reveal underlying medical reasons for their short stature, according to a new study of an urban pediatric population in Philadelphia. Girls with medical conditions causing their short stature may go undiagnosed, or may be diagnosed later than boys, limiting timely treatment.

Researchers from The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia published their study online today in the April 2011 issue of Pediatrics.

The study team analyzed referral patterns for growth faltering in a retrospective study of children, a majority of them African American, in urban primary care pediatric practices. Growth faltering was defined as being in the lowest 5 percent of height for the child's age and gender, or by a standardized measure of growth deceleration.

A majority of children with growth faltering were managed by primary care physicians rather than by subspecialists such as endocrinologists or gastroenterologists. Those subspecialists treat children with medical conditions such as growth hormone deficiency and Turner syndrome, which lead to short stature. Compared to boys in the study, girls with growth faltering were screened only half as often for growth hormone deficiency.

"We found that growth faltering is common in urban, largely minority, underserved pediatric practices," said Adda Grimberg, M.D., pediatric endocrinologist at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and primary investigator on this study. "Only eight percent of the children with growth faltering received subspecialist care and there is a gender and race disparity that is not beneficial to the children who may need additional treatment."

The researchers examined the medical records of 33,476 patients between the ages of 6 months and 20 years who were seen in four primary care centers located in the City of Philadelphia. Of those children, 3,007 had growth faltering, with boys comprising 53 percent of that group. Children with growth faltering had more tests than the others in the study, and boys were more likely to be tested for deficiencies of the growth hormone system than girls.

Children who saw subspecialists had greater deficits in stature and were seen more frequently by primary care providers than children who were not referred to specialists. Children who saw gastroenterologists were the same age as those who were not referred to subspecialists, however children who saw endocrinologists were on average 2 to 3 years older.

Black children were less likely to see a subspecialist than white children and the disparity was greater for endocrinology than gastroenterology. Subspecialty care was not associated with gender or type of insurance.

Only one percent of the girls with growth faltering received chromosome testing. They were more likely to have this test than boys because Turner syndrome is a genetic condition that leads to a reduction in height and occurs in girls only. Thirty-five percent of the girls tested were at least 12 years old.

"Timely diagnosis is important for the initiation of proper monitoring and treatment of syndrome associated complications such as renal and cardiac malformations, neurosensory hearing loss and neurocognitive issues. It is particularly concerning that 35 percent of the girls with growth faltering and chromosome testing were already at least 12 years old, " added Dr. Grimberg.

This study builds on previous work by Dr. Grimberg, published in 2005, that found a gender bias among children receiving evaluation for short stature in subspecialty clinics.

"While social pressures for tallness may be greater in boys than girls, primary care providers who overlook growth faltering may be missing out on an underlying condition that has additional health consequences. Height is the clue, not the endgame," said Dr. Grimberg.


The study was funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and a Foerderer-Murray Award from The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Dr. Grimberg's co-authors were Kristen A. Feemster, M.D., M.P.H., Susmita Pati, M.D., Mark Ramos, BS, Robert Grundmeier, M.D., and Virginia A. Stallings, M.D., all of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and  Andrew J. Cucchiara, Ph.D., from the Clinical Translational Research Center and Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of Pennsylvania.

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia was founded in 1855 as the nation's first pediatric hospital. Through its long-standing commitment to providing exceptional patient care, training new generations of pediatric healthcare professionals and pioneering major research initiatives, Children's Hospital has fostered many discoveries that have benefited children worldwide. Its pediatric research program is among the largest in the country, ranking third in National Institutes of Health funding. In addition, its unique family-centered care and public service programs have brought the 516-bed hospital recognition as a leading advocate for children and adolescents.


STORY TAGS: Black News, African American News, Minority News, Civil Rights News, Discrimination, Racism, Racial Equality, Bias, Equality, Afro American News, Women News, Minority News, Discrimination, Diversity, Female, Underrepresented, Equality, Gender Bias, Equality



Back to top
| Back to home page
Video

White House Live Stream
LIVE VIDEO EVERY SATURDAY
alsharpton Rev. Al Sharpton
9 to 11 am EST
jjackson Rev. Jesse Jackson
10 to noon CST


Video

LIVE BROADCASTS
Sounds Make the News ®
WAOK-Urban
Atlanta - WAOK-Urban
KPFA-Progressive
Berkley / San Francisco - KPFA-Progressive
WVON-Urban
Chicago - WVON-Urban
KJLH - Urban
Los Angeles - KJLH - Urban
WKDM-Mandarin Chinese
New York - WKDM-Mandarin Chinese
WADO-Spanish
New York - WADO-Spanish
WBAI - Progressive
New York - WBAI - Progressive
WOL-Urban
Washington - WOL-Urban

Listen to United Natiosns News