Physical characteristics of young men with cleft lip, with or without cleft palate, and cleft palate only

We report the weight, stature, body mass index (BMI), and muscular strength of men about 19 years old who have cleft lip, either with or without cleft palate (CLP), or cleft palate only (CP). Data were obtained from the Swedish National Service enrolment register for the years 1991 - 97, and concerned 335 men with CLP and 88 with CP, who were compared with a control group of 272 879 men. The data showed that those with CLP and CP were significantly lighter than controls. Their stature in the CLP group was similar to that in controls, but those with CP significantly shorter. These findings imply that men with CLP had a significantly lower BMI whereas men with CP had a similar BMI compared with controls. Those with CLP did not differ as regards to muscular strength, but those with CP were significantly weaker than controls.