Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the diagnosis of idiopathic central precocious puberty in pediatric females in New York City.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic had profound effect on physical and mental health. Stress was due physical inactivity, increased screen time, social isolation, fear of illness/death, as well as relative lack of resources including healthy food and finances. These stressors may be associated with an increase in idiopathic central precocious puberty (ICPP).

OBJECTIVES: To assess the incidence of ICPP in females during the COVID-19 pandemic and compare biochemical and radiological parameters of females diagnosed in the previous two years, looking at associations among BMI, screen time, isolation, and stress in relation to the development of early puberty.

METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed of females diagnosed with ICPP. We divided subjects into a pandemic group and pre-pandemic group based on time of diagnosis. We compared anthropometric, serologic and radiologic data between the two groups. To assess psychosocial stress, we reviewed a COVID-19 impact survey which was administered to families at our endocrine clinic.

RESULTS: There were a total of 56 subjects in the study; 23 subjects in the pre-pandemic group and 33 in the pandemic group. The pandemic cohort had significantly higher estradiol and LH levels and larger ovarian volumes. Survey results showed parental report of stress was moderate in 38 % of subjects and severe in 25 % of parents. In children, reported stress was moderate in 46 % of subjects.

CONCLUSIONS: As puberty is influenced by exogenous factors including weight gain and psychosocial stress, we suspect that the environmental stress surrounding the pandemic influenced the increase in ICPP.