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Postnatal growth curves of very low birthweight Japanese infants
K Itabashi1, T Takeuchi, K Okuyama
1Department of Pediatrics, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Insights
Standard growth curves for Japanese infants born with very low birthweight were created. These growth charts help track the development of premature infants in neonatal intensive care units.
Area of Science:
- Neonatology
- Pediatric Growth and Development
Background:
- Establishing standard growth curves is crucial for monitoring the development of infants born with very low birthweight.
- Previous data may not fully represent current neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) practices in Japan.
Purpose of the Study:
- To construct standard growth curves for bodyweight and head circumference for Japanese infants of very low birthweight.
- To provide a reference for evaluating the growth of these vulnerable infants in modern NICUs.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal data from 379 singleton infants (birthweight 600-1500g) admitted to 47 Japanese neonatal centers (1986-1987) were analyzed.
- Infants were grouped into nine 100g birthweight categories.
- Polynomial regression analysis was used to generate growth curves for bodyweight and head circumference.
Main Results:
- Growth curves were established for nine birthweight categories.
- Increased prematurity correlated with greater weight loss, longer time to reach lowest weight, and longer time to regain birthweight.
- A higher incidence of chronic lung disease was observed in more premature infants.
Conclusions:
- The constructed growth curves provide a valuable reference for assessing the growth of very low birthweight infants in Japan.
- The findings highlight the challenges in growth and associated morbidities in extremely premature infants.
Abstract:
To construct standard growth curves for Japanese infants of very low birthweight, longitudinal data provided by 47 neonatal centers in Japan were reviewed. Data were collected on the growth of infants admitted to those units during 1986 and 1987 and who survived beyond 3 years of age. A total of 379 singleton infants, who were free of neurological sequelae and appropriate for gestational age, were enrolled. Those whose birthweights were more than 600 g and less than 1,500 g were grouped into nine weight categories separated by increments of 100 g. Data on the increase in weight and head circumference were compiled and analyzed until more than half the infants in each weight category had been discharged from each site. Growth curves of bodyweight and head circumference in the nine groups were constructed using polynomial regression analysis to define the curve of best fit. With increasing prematurity, significant trends of greater weight loss (P < 0.05), longer time to reach the lowest weight (P < 0.01) and a longer time to regain birthweight (P < 0.01) were observed. In addition, there was a significantly higher incidence of chronic lung disease in such groups (P < 0.0001). Growth curves were characterized by the average clinical profiles in each of the nine groups. We believe that these data will be useful in evaluating the growth of very low birthweight infants being cared for in modern neonatal intensive care units in Japan.