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New standards for birth weight by gestational age using family data
R Skjaerven1, H K Gjessing, L S Bakketeig
1Section for Medical Statistics and the Medical Birth Registry of Norway, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
|September 19, 2000
Summary
New standards for birth weight by gestational age incorporate family history. Maternal and sibling birth weights significantly refine predictions, improving classification of small-for-gestational-age infants.
Area of Science:
- Perinatal Medicine
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Reproductive Health
Background:
- Accurate birth weight standards are crucial for assessing fetal growth and neonatal health.
- Existing standards may not fully account for familial influences on birth weight.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop refined birth weight standards based on gestational age by incorporating maternal birth weight and sibling birth weight data.
- To enhance the prediction accuracy of birth weight percentiles.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 1.7 million Norwegian births (1967-1998).
- Data organized into sibships and mother-offspring units using unique personal identifiers.
- Categorization of first births by sex and maternal birth weight; second births by sex and older sibling's birth weight.
Main Results:
- Incorporating older sibling birth weight altered birth weight percentiles by over 1100 g.
- Including maternal birth weight shifted percentiles by nearly 700 g.
- The utility of these enhanced standards was evident in variations in perinatal mortality rates.
Conclusions:
- Maternal birth weight and previous sibling birth weights significantly improve predictions of birth weight for gestational age.
- These familial factors should be integrated into the classification of small-for-gestational-age (SGA) births.