Comparison of the growth patterns among children with congenital hypothyroidism and healthy children in Yazd city in 2014: a historical cohort study

The congenital hypothyroidism is one of the most common endocrine diseases, which can affect the growth of the children. This study aimed to compare the growth patterns among the children with congenital hypothyroidism (CH) and healthy children in Yazd, Iran. This retrospective cohort study was performed on all neonatal children with CH, who had been born since 2006 to 2008. The average height, weight and head circumference along with the growth disorder ratios for these variables were measured and compared in the children with CH and healthy children during the first 5 years of life after considering their age and gender. Results showed no significant difference in the average height, weight and head circumference between the girls with CH and the healthy ones. Moreover, there was a significant difference in the average height of boys at the age of 3 to 24 months, the average weight at the age of 6 to 18 months and the average head circumference at the age of 12 to 18 months compared with the values of healthy children in this city. At the end of a 5-year follow-up, no significant difference was observed in the growth disorder ratio for weight, height and head circumference between both the healthy children and patients in both genders. After treatment and care for these patients, the growth patterns of these children would be within the normal and desirable range.