The 3rd COPENHAGEN Puberty Study

The COPENHAGEN School Study. Normal Pubertal Development in Youth 2021 and Long-term Disease and Death Risk After Extremely Early Puberty

The COPENHAGEN School Study is a combined cross-sectional and longitudinal study of healthy Danish school children. This study will by clinical examinations and withdrawal of blood samples investigate whether age of pubertal onset is continuing to decline in Denmark over the past 15 years. Furthermore, we will investigate the mechanism driving earlier onset of puberty and the long term health risks of extremely early puberty using Danish registry data

Cross-sectional School study:

All children will be examined once and the following data will be collected:

1. Clinical medical examination of the child consisting of height measurements (standing- and sitting-height), arm-span, weight, fat fold measurements (biceps, triceps, flank, subscapularis), circumference of waist and hip, waist-hip ratio, blood pressure, body fat composition. Puberty development will be assessed by trained and experienced clinical personal according to Tanner criteria. Girls will be investigated for assessment of breast development stage B1-5 (by palpation), pubic hair staging PH1-5, occurrence of axillary hair (Stage 0-2), menarche (yes / no), sweat (yes/no) and acne (yes/no), and boys, their genitalia development stage G1-5, pubic hair stage PH1-6, occurrence of axillary hair (yes/no), acne (yes/no), sweat (yes/no), voice frequency, and voice break (yes/no). The testicular volume assessed by means of Praders orchidometer.
2. Blood sample (35 ml) for measurement of: a) Hormone levels, peptides and growth factors (FSH, LH, estradiol (total/free), progesterone, estrone/estrone sulphate, SHBG, testosterone (total/free), DHEAS, 17-hydroxyprogestrerone, androstenedione, 11-dinhibin B, AMH, INSL3 (only boys), kisspeptin, ghrelin, leptin, IGF-1, IGFBP-3, IGF-related peptides, eoxycortisol, cortisol, cortisone, RANKL, OPG, fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), TSH, T4, free T4, T3, free T3, HbA1C, calcium ion, alkaline phosphatase, PTH, magnesium, phosphate, 25-OH-vitamin D, osteocalcin, prolactin, insulin and lipids (HDL, LDL, TG, Ip(a), cholesterol and lipoproteins), blood metabolites (e.g. amino acids, biogenic amines, acylcarnitines, lyso-phosphatidylcholines, phosphatidylcholines, sphingomyelins and hexose) and proteins (e.g. cytokines, growth factors, kinases, plasma receptors, proteases, protease inhibitors, plasma hormones and structural proteins)); b) Endocrine disrupters (PCBs, dioxins, parabens and phtalates); and c) DNA and RNA
3. Spot urine sample (100 ml) for measurement of FSH, LH, testosterone and endocrine disrupters ( parabens, pthalates, bisphenol A, UV-filters and triclosan)
4. Self-administered electronic questionnaire collecting information on previous growth, illness, living conditions, lifestyle factors, parents' puberty history and current hight and weight.

Biobank Blood and urine samples will be temporary stored during the data collection period until 30th of July 2026. After this date, all unused serum, urine and DNA/RNA not used in the planned analyses will be stored at the established permanent (RegionH, Fælles Fryserfaciliteter) biobank (BIOSEK). The period of storage here is 30 years from the date that the temporary storage is closed.

Prospective Registry-based Cohort study of the Long-term health and death risk after extremely early puberty:

With a follow-up design, we will assess risk of morbidity and mortality amongst cases and referent children. Hazard rations (HRs) will be calculated using Cox regression analyses with stratification using each case and his/her matched referent subjects as a stratum. This ensures that comparisons are adjusted for age and calendar time. Co-variates includes maternal (BMI, smoking, socioeconomic status) during the index pregnancy, also birth weight, length and head circumference of participants. All will be identified in national registries for all persons.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy children and adolescents

Exclusion Criteria:

• In case of acute disease, cancer, cancer therapy, or chronic disease (History of malignant disease, chemotherapy or radiation, cystic fibrosis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, sickle cell disease, thalassemia, chronic renal disease or known numerical chromosome aberration)
• Non-Caucasian