CrescNet is a network of primary care physicians and pediatricians (n=219) and endocrinological treatment centers (n=33), established in Leipzig in 1998, whose aim is to improve the early detection of growth disorders. Secondary to this clinical aim, epidemiological analyses, for example on secular trends of growth data of children, are performed.

Pediatricians participating in CrescNet provide pseudononymized data on patients' height, weight, and head circumferences to the CrescNet registry. Growth data are evaluated by automatized filter algorithms and by a pediatric endocrinologist. CrescNet does not have access to patients or personal patient data. Each participating pediatrician receives a quarterly screening report with recommendations for the work-up of children with abnormal growth or abnormal development of weight or body mass index.

The data registry is used for scientific purposes.The collection of data from healthy children allows the generation of evidence based statements about prevalence rates of growth disorders and also about the rates in disorders of weight development. For this, data are provided completely anonymized without allowing conclusions on personal patient data.

Inclusion Criteria: Population based sample with inclusion of any patient seen by primary care or institutional physician/pediatrician, regardless of the objective for the visit (well child visits, acute visits or special requests)

Exclusion Criteria: none

479, 576 boys with 2,570, 041 visits und 453,510 girls with 2,427,350 visits from screening and/or consulting visits at 1 of the 435 participating German pediatricians.