Onset of puberty in boys with short stature is earlier in those born small-for-gestational age and later in those born appropriate-for-gestational age than in the general healthy population.

This study compared the age at onset of puberty among boys with short stature (prepubertal height SD score (SDS) ≤ -2.0 SD) who were small-for-gestational age (SGA) and those who were appropriate-for-gestational age (AGA), as well as healthy boys from the Ogi Growth Study. The study population consisted of boys who presented with short stature between 2008 and 2023. The study included 238 boys, including 229 whose age at puberty onset was auxologically determined and nine whose physical evaluations were performed at the onset of puberty. Of them, 40 were included in the SGA group and 198 in the AGA group. The control group consisted of 227 healthy boys from the Ogi Growth Study whose puberty was auxologically determined. Prepubertal height SDS was not significantly different between the SGA and AGA groups. Age at puberty onset was significantly earlier in the SGA group (10.87 ± 0.98 yr) than in the AGA group (11.90 ± 1.06 yr). Moreover, age at puberty onset was significantly earlier in the SGA group and significantly later in the AGA group than in the control group (11.28 ± 0.95 yr). Therefore, when following children with short stature, clinicians should consider the likelihood of early puberty if they are SGA.