Intrauterine growth curves for Turkish infants born between 25 and 42 weeks of gestation

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Neonatology
• Pediatric Growth and Development

Background:

• Accurate intrauterine growth curves are essential for monitoring fetal development.
• Existing growth charts are often population-specific and may not accurately reflect the growth patterns of the Turkish population.
• There is a need for localized growth standards to improve the assessment of newborn anthropometrics in Turkey.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish population-specific intrauterine growth curves for birth weight, crown-heel length, and head circumference for the Turkish population.
• To provide smoothed percentile curves for each parameter across gestational ages from 25 to 42 weeks.
• To offer a more appropriate reference tool for clinical use in Turkey compared to international standards.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective analysis of anthropometric data from 2481 newborns was conducted.
• Mean, standard deviation, and percentile values were calculated for birth weight, crown-heel length, and head circumference at each week of gestational age.
• Smoothed curves were generated for each measured parameter to represent intrauterine growth patterns.

Main Results:

• Smoothed intrauterine growth curves for birth weight, crown-heel length, and head circumference were successfully generated for the Turkish population.
• The study provides detailed percentile values for each gestational age from 25 to 42 weeks.
• The established curves demonstrated distinct growth patterns relevant to the local population.

Conclusions:

• The newly developed intrauterine growth curves are specific to the Turkish population and are recommended for clinical use.
• These population-specific charts offer a more accurate assessment of fetal growth in Turkey.
• Implementing these localized growth standards can enhance the monitoring and management of newborn health in the region.