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Published on: February 18, 2012
[Longitudinal study of the growth of preterm newborn infants]
J Rodríguez García1, V M Bosch Giménez, M A Alonso García
1Servicio de Pediatría. Hospital Infantil Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca. Murcia. España. hrodriguezgarc@medynet.com
Insights
Accurate assessment of premature infant growth requires specific reference values. This study found that intrauterine growth charts do not reflect the actual postnatal development of premature infants, highlighting the need for tailored growth monitoring.
Area of Science:
- Neonatalogy
- Pediatric Growth and Development
- Biostatistics
Background:
- Accurate assessment of premature infant growth and nutrition is crucial.
- Establishing population-specific reference values is necessary for accurate growth monitoring.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the postnatal growth patterns of premature infants within a specific region.
- To compare the postnatal growth of premature infants with established intrauterine growth standards.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 103 premature infants (28-36 weeks gestation) was studied from birth to 48-52 weeks postconceptional age.
- Infants with specific medical conditions were excluded to ensure a representative sample.
- Percentile growth graphs were generated using a 2-step regression model.
Main Results:
- Weight and length exhibited uniform, linear postnatal growth in premature infants, differing from intrauterine growth patterns.
- Head and arm circumference showed a growth deceleration around 42-43 weeks postconceptional age.
- Subscapular and tricipital skinfolds displayed increasing dispersion of values over time.
Conclusions:
- Established intrauterine growth charts are inadequate for monitoring the postnatal development of premature infants.
- Developing specific reference charts for premature infant postnatal growth is essential for accurate clinical assessment.
Background:
The growth and nutrition of premature infants should be accurately assessed. To do this, reference values of normality, obtained from population to be studied, are required.
Objectives:
To study the postnatal growth of premature infants in our environment and to compare their growth with intrauterine growth (Lubchenco et al).
Patients:
A total of 103 premature infants born at 28-36 weeks of gestation in the Virgen de la Arrixaca University Children's Hospital in Murcia (Spain) from April 1994 to June 1995 were studied. Children who received medical care during the first 24 hours of life and who had no prenatal condition that could affect their growth were selected. Those who suffered from serious disease were excluded. The study was carried out from birth to a postconceptional age of 48-52 weeks. The 2-step regression model was used to calculate the percentile graphs.
Results:
Percentile growth graphs were drawn up for the following variables: weight, length, arm circumference, head circumference, subscapular fold, and tricipital fold. In premature infants, postnatal growth in weight and length was uniform, progressive, and practically linear and did not show the flattening that is characteristic of intrauterine growth. Other corporal segments such as the head and arm circumference showed a certain slowing down at a postconceptional age of 42 or 43 weeks, and the folds showed a moderate dispersion of values as the study progressed.
Conclusions:
Intrauterine growth charts do not accurately assess postnatal growth in premature infants.
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