Growth in children with chronic kidney disease and associated risk factors for short stature.

Introduction: Growth failure in chronic kidney disease is related to high morbidity and mortality. Growth retardation in this disease is multifactorial. Knowing the modifiable factors and establishing strategies to improve care for affected children is paramount.

Objectives: To describe growth patterns in children with chronic kidney disease and the risk factors associated with short stature.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed anthropometric and epidemiological data, birth weight, prematurity, and bicarbonate, hemoglobin, calcium, phosphate, alkaline phosphatase, and parathormone levels of children with stages 3-5 CKD not on dialysis, followed for at least one year.

Results: We included 43 children, the majority of which were boys (65%). The mean height/length /age z-score of the children at the beginning and follow-up was -1.89 ± 1.84 and -2.4 ± 1.67, respectively (p = 0.011). Fifty-one percent of the children had short stature, and these children were younger than those with adequate stature (p = 0.027). PTH levels at the beginning of the follow-up correlated with height/length/age z-score. A sub-analysis with children under five (n = 17) showed that 10 (58.8%) of them failed to thrive and had a lower weight/age z-score (0.031) and lower BMI/age z-score (p = 0.047).

Conclusion: Children, particularly younger ones, with chronic kidney disease who were not on dialysis had a high prevalence of short stature. PTH levels were correlated with height z-score, and growth failure was associated with worse nutritional status. Therefore, it is essential to monitor the growth of these children, control hyperparathyroidism, and provide nutritional support.