Temporal trends in growth of boys adopted from Russia

Abstract

Introduction: The objective of this study is to contribute data on the temporal trends in weight, height, body mass index (BMI) and head circumference (HC) in boys adopted from Russia. Material and methods: Prospective observational study on an initial cohort of 139 Russian boys adopted in Spain between 2001 and 2013. Adverse history was collected by reviewing pre-adoption medical records. Anthropometric parameters were measured and recorded in a standardized way. The measurements obtained were compared with the World Health Organization child growth standards, calculating the corresponding z-scores (Z) and percentiles for age and sex. Results: Main history: preterm (32.4%), low birth weight (26.6%), prenatal alcohol exposure (19.4%), abandonment at birth (56.1%), abuse/neglect (49.3%). Initial post-arrival evaluation, 3 (1.7) years: weight Z, -1.24; height Z, -2.34; HC Z, -1.27. Significant catch-up growth (Z increase) in the first year: weight, +0.73; height, +1.05; HC, +0.6; in the second year: height, +0.58. Longitudinal growth pattern. Weight: from age 5 years, no relevant differences were observed. Height: at age 6 years a relevant delay persisted, from ages 7 to 11 years a gradual increase was observed, and from ages 12 to 17 years a gradual decrease, no showing relevant differences. BMI: showed that the degree of height delay was always higher than that of weight, balancing after age 14 years. HC: at age 5 years, there was no longer a relevant difference. Conclusions: These findings suggest that, despite the important delay of weight, HC, and especially height at the time of adoption, and the various adverse factors for growth that they presented, international adoption led to a substantial recovery of all anthropometric parameters, showing plasticity in the physical growth of these children.