Table 2.

Main pitfalls in target height calculation

Pitfalls	Suggestions
Sex correction factor can be population-specific	Derive the sex correction factor from population-specific growth charts OR Use population-specific formula’s if available
Height disparity between parents can be greater than average	Use the models proposed by Luo et al., Hermanussen & Cole AND Take into account that father height is more likely to influence sons’ height and mother’s height daughters’ height
Secular trend and its differences among populations	Obtain information about secular trend for the specific population OR Use population-specific formulas accounting for secular trend if available OR Use the model proposed by Hermanussen & Cole if parental height SDS is obtained from growth charts dating back one generation
TH can underestimate growth potential in children born from very short parents	Calculate TH-SDS rather than TH expressed in cm OR add 1 cm for every 5 cm that mid-parental height deviates from the population mean
TH can overestimate growth potential in children born from very tall parents	Calculate TH-SDS rather than TH expressed in cm OR subtract 1 cm for every 5 cm that mid-parental height deviates from the population mean
Need for taking into account assortative mating and parent–offspring correlation	Use the model proposed by Hermanussen & Cole

The model proposed by Luo et. al resulted in a formula calculated on data specific for the Swedish population. A recalculation of the formula for data specific for other populations might be needed to increase accuracy. Similarly, the model proposed by Hermanussen & Cole is based on parent-parent and parent–offspring correlation coefficients calculated by Luo et al. for the Swedish population. This correlation coefficients might differ for other populations, however they are accepted for European populations