Anthropometry at the time of diagnosis in Danish children with inflammatory bowel disease

All patients below 15 y of age living in the eastern part of Denmark with a diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) during the period 1998-2000 were identified (n= 94) and anthropometrical data at the time of diagnosis were evaluated. Conclusion: The height-for-age and the BMI-for-age, as evaluated by z-scores, of children with ulcerative colitis (UC) did not differ from those of normal Danish children, but Crohn's disease (CD) children had significantly lower height and BMI values, both when compared to normal children and children with UC. In contrast to UC, CD is frequently complicated by malnutrition and growth retardation at the time of diagnosis.