Trend of Central Precocious Puberty before and during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

Abstract

During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, there was an increase in the diagnosis of endocrine disorders, notably the onset of central precocious puberty (CPP).

Objective: To describe and compare the frequency of precocious puberty onset in two periods, before and during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Patients and Method: Medical records with a confirmed diagnosis of CPP were reviewed from patients treated at Hospital Las Higueras, in Talcahuano, during two periods: 2019-2020 (Group 1, before the pandemic) and 2021-2022 (Group 2, during the pandemic). The variables studied were age at diagnosis, sex, age at onset of puberty, Body Mass Index (BMI) Z-score, Tanner stage, bone age, Luteinizing Hormone (LH), uterine size, and ovarian volumes at diagnosis.

Results: There were 98 cases of precocious puberty in Group 1 (96.9% females) and 162 cases in Group 2 (95% females), showing a significant increase in CPP cases during the pandemic period (p < 0.001). Females presented with a higher BMI Z score and more advanced Tanner stage and bone age at diagnosis during the pandemic (p = 0.049, 0.07, and 0.06, respectively). Males were younger at diagnosis of precocious puberty in Group 2 (p = 0.019).

Conclusions: Our data show a higher frequency of CPP onset in females and an earlier age at presentation in males during the pandemic period.