Related Experiment Videos
Birth weight for gestational age centiles for Italian neonates
F Festini1, E Procopio, G Taccetti
1Regional Cystic Fibrosis Center of Tuscany, Division of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Meyer Pediatric Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, University of Florence, Via Luca Giordano 12, 50132 Florence, Italy.
Summary
This study provides updated birth weight (BW) centiles for gestational age (GA) and sex in Italian newborns. These reliable centiles are crucial for assessing infant growth and health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Neonatalogy
- Pediatric Growth Standards
- Public Health
Background:
- Accurate birth weight (BW) for gestational age (GA) standards are essential for neonatal care.
- Existing growth charts may not reflect current Italian neonatal populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish comprehensive BW for GA centiles specific to the Italian neonatal population.
- To provide sex-specific centiles for enhanced clinical application.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of a large dataset (n=290,129) of Tuscan neonates (1991-2002).
- Exclusion of outlier BW values based on interquartile range criteria for each GA and sex group.
- Calculation of 3rd, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th, and 97th centiles.
Main Results:
- Presentation of BW for GA centiles from 24 to 43 weeks gestation for Italian male and female neonates.
- Data available as both tables and smoothed curves for ease of use.
- Comprehensive centiles provided, particularly valuable for lower gestational ages.
Conclusions:
- The study offers up-to-date and reliable BW for GA centiles for Italian newborns.
- These standards support improved clinical assessment and monitoring of neonatal growth.
- The large sample size ensures the robustness of the provided growth data.