Prediction of adult height using maturity-based cumulative height velocity curves.

Objective: To validate and demonstrate how adult height can be predicted by using reference values obtained from maturity and sex-specific cumulative height velocity curves.

Study Design: Serial height measurements were taken on 224 boys and 120 girls. Individuals were classified as early, average, or late maturers, depending on their age of peak height velocity. Maturity and sex-specific cumulative height velocity curves were developed for early, average, and late maturers, and the area under these curves were used to develop reference values to predict adult height.

Results: This method can predict adult height within +/-5.35 cm 95% of the time in boys and +/-6.81 cm 95% of the time in girls.

Conclusions: The technique is a valid, nonintrusive, inexpensive, and simple method of predicting adult height in adolescent children, free of growth limiting diseases.