Link Between Age at Menarche and Scoliosis in Different Latitudes
Author Information
Author(s): Grivas Theodoros B, Vasiliadis Elias, Mouzakis Vasilios, Mihas Constantinos, Koufopoulos Georgios
Primary Institution: Orthopaedic Department, 'Thriasio' General Hospital, Greece
Hypothesis
Is there an association between the prevalence of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and age at menarche across different geographic latitudes?
Conclusion
Late age at menarche is associated with a higher prevalence of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, particularly in northern latitudes.
Supporting Evidence
- The regression analysis showed a significant positive association between scoliosis prevalence and latitude.
- Age at menarche decreases as latitude approaches the equator.
- Late menarche correlates with prolonged spine vulnerability in girls.
Takeaway
Girls who start their periods later are more likely to have scoliosis, especially if they live in northern areas where there's less sunlight.
Methodology
The study analyzed data from 20 papers on scoliosis prevalence and 33 papers on age at menarche, using regression analysis by latitude.
Potential Biases
Potential biases may arise from variations in study definitions, methods, and sample populations across different geographic regions.
Limitations
The study design did not allow for direct correlation between age at menarche and scoliosis prevalence due to data being collected from different groups of publications.
Participant Demographics
The studies included normal girls aged 10 to 14 years from various geographic areas in the northern hemisphere.
Statistical Information
P-Value
< 0.001
Statistical Significance
p < 0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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