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Fig. 2 | BMC Pediatrics

Fig. 2

From: Insight into human pubertal growth by applying the QEPS growth model

Fig. 2

Detailed QEPS pubertal growth estimates. Left panel: Showing the height (upper) and height velocity (lower) graphs of an individual. Subtracting the Q+ES (QES)-function from T gives the pubertal P-function. The total gain in adult height due to the specific P-function gives the maximum height of the P-function, P max in cm (P max  = T max QES max ). From the P-function, onset of pubertal growth can be estimated as the age when 5% (AgeP5) of the total P-function-estimated gain is reached. AgeP95 shows the age when 95% of the P-function growth is reached. The area under curve, i.e. the light grey shaded area between total height velocity (HV) function T’(age) and HV function QES’(age) = T’(age)P′(age), from AgeP5 to AgeP95 is equal to the total area under the curve of pubertal HV P′(age) during that time and equal to Pgain P5–95. QEPS-parameter AgeP50 gives the age where 50% of the total pubertal gain, P max is reached, so exactly 45% of the light grey shaded area is before and 45% is after AgeP50. Total gain in height from AgeP5 to AgeP95 is the sum of Pgain P5–95 and QESgain P5–95 (light blue shaded area). Right panel: Showing the height velocity (HV, upper) and height acceleration (HA, lower) graphs of an individual. From the P-function, onset of pubertal growth can also be estimated as the age when 1% (AgeP1) of the total P-function-estimated gain is reached. AgeP PHV is the age at peak height velocity (PHV) from the P-function-estimated pubertal growth. AgeP99 shows the age when 99% of the P-function growth is reached. The area under curve, i.e. the light grey shaded area is equal to the total area under the curve of pubertal HV function P′(age) and therefore equal to P max . AgeS0 is the age where the S-function starts, which can be seen as a break in the black solid line of the HA function T”(age). From the total growth curve, onset of pubertal growth is calculated as the age at minimum HV of the total HV function T’(age) at HA function T”(age) = 0, AgeT ONSET . Mid-puberty is calculated as the age at PHV from the total growth curve, AgeT PHV with also T”(age) = 0 and end of puberty as the age at which HV had decreased to 1 cm/year, AgeT END

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