National survey of referrals for precocious puberty in Germany

BMJ Paediatr Open. 2023 May;7(1):e001987. doi: 10.1136/bmjpo-2023-001987.

Abstract

An unusual high number of girls were referred to our paediatric endocrine clinic with suspected precocious puberty (PP) since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. We analysed our data and initiated a survey among German paediatric endocrinologists.At our centre, less than 10 patients were diagnosed of PP annually between 2015 and 2019. This increased to n=23 (2020) and n=30 (2021). A German survey confirmed this observation: Out of 44 centres which completed the questionnaire, 30/44 (68%) reported an increase of PP. Above this, 32/44 (72%) stated an increase in girls diagnosed with 'early normal puberty' since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords: Adolescent Health; COVID-19; Endocrinology.

Publication types

  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19* / epidemiology
  • Child
  • Female
  • Germany / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Pandemics
  • Puberty, Precocious* / diagnosis
  • Puberty, Precocious* / epidemiology
  • Referral and Consultation