[Methods of growth assessment for low-birth-weight children ]

The aim of the study was to establish the trend of physical growth in low-birth-weight (LBW) children, to predict the best method for early diagnosis of growth failure and to make use of biological growth standards for estimation of their postnatal growth. Physical growth of 283 LBW children was longitudinally analysed. The investigated children were divided into 3 groups: group I - AGA preterms, group II - S-f-D infants, group III - SGA preterms. Body weight, length, head circumference and chest circumference were measured at the time of birth and after 1, 2, 3, 6, 9. 12, 18, 24 months of chronological age. In the two groups of preterms (AGA, SGA preterms) chronological age and real values of anthropometric traits were adjusted according to gestational age. For the estimation of growth dynamics, growth velocity indices were calculated. Data basis was statistically analysed (ANOVA, Duncan, Tukey, t-Student tests), and compared with biological standards. Significant differences for physical growth in the 2 groups of preterms according to chronological and gestational age observed (p<0.001; 0.05). It was demonstrated that accelerated growth of preterms in the first months of postnatal life results from the intrauterine growth velocity. The phenomenon of catch-up growth was detected for S-f-D infants. Analysis of physical growth in LBW children showed that not considering gestational age could lead to statistically important mistakes in the estimation of their growth. The method of adjustment of anthropometric traits to gestational age permits the usage of biological standards for the estimation of postnatal physical growth of AGA preterms.