Method: Growth data of 5 year old children born with UCLP was collected as part of a grant funded (NIHR, RP-PG-0707-10034) national research survey. Height was measured with an Harpden stadiometer using a standard protocol. Weight was recorded on Tanita scales with the child in light clothing. The head circumference was measured from the widest horizontal circumference above the eyebrows and ears with an Harpden anthropometric tape and the head postured in the Frankfort plane position. In all 257 children were recruited to this study (83 females, 174 males).
Result: General characteristics of these 5 year old children born with UCLP compared with UK 90 data showed that the girls were shorter than expected but with normal weight (peaking in 25th and 50th centiles respectively). The boys however were shorter than would be expected in the general population (peaking in the 25thcentile) and also had slightly lower than expected weight (peaking in 25thcentile). In relation to BMI, the girls peaked in the 50th centile and the boys in the 25th centile. When compared with 5 year olds in England (from the National Child Measurement Programme 2012) both boys and girls born with UCLP were underweight with a lower percentage of obesity. Head circumference was lower than expected in both girls and boys with 61.7% and 68.3% respectively, falling below the 50th centile.
Conclusion: Collection of data within the centralised UK cleft services has yielded rich phenotype characteristics. The development of those children born with a cleft is different than the non-cleft population and further statistical analysis is now required to build on these early results.