Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

Postnatal growth failure in preterm infants: ascertainment and relation to long-term outcome

Prakesh S Shah1, Kit Y Wong, Susan Merko

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. pshah@mtsinai.on.ca

Journal of Perinatal Medicine
|December 5, 2006
PubMed

Insights

A significant decrease in z score (>2) between birth and 36 weeks corrected gestational age best predicts psychomotor deficits in preterm infants. This measure can identify infants needing nutritional support for better long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatalogy
  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Pediatric Nutrition

Background:

  • Assessing postnatal growth failure in preterm infants (<28 weeks' gestation) using traditional methods shows limited predictive power for long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes.
  • Accurate identification of growth failure is crucial for timely intervention in vulnerable preterm populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify a reliable measure of postnatal growth failure in preterm infants that is strongly associated with long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes.
  • To compare the predictive values of different definitions of postnatal growth failure.

Main Methods:

  • Four definitions of postnatal growth failure at 36 weeks corrected gestational age were evaluated: weight <10th percentile, weight <3rd percentile, z score difference from birth >1, and z score difference from birth >2.
  • The predictive values and strength of association with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes at 18-24 months were compared for each definition.

Main Results:

  • Postnatal growth failure, defined as a decrease in z score of >2 between birth and 36 weeks corrected gestational age, demonstrated the best predictive values among the measures assessed.
  • This definition was significantly associated with psychomotor developmental outcomes (P=0.006) but not with mental developmental indices (P=0.379).

Conclusions:

  • Postnatal growth failure, when defined by a z score change >2, impacts psychomotor development in preterm infants but not mental development.
  • This specific method for assessing growth failure can aid in identifying preterm infants who may benefit from targeted nutritional interventions to improve neurodevelopmental trajectories.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats07:36

Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats

Published on: November 20, 2015

Related Concept Videos

Nature and Nurture01:10

Nature and Nurture

Many human characteristics, like height, are shaped by both nature—in other words, by our genes—and by nurture, or our environment. For example, chronic stress during childhood inhibits the production of growth hormones and consequently reduces bone growth and height. Scientists estimate that 70-90% of variation in height is due to genetic differences among individuals, and 10-30% of variation in height is due to differences in the environments that individuals experience, such as differences...
Teratogenicity01:07

Teratogenicity

The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...