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Growth and sexual maturation of low birth weight infants at early adolescence

Sudha Chaudhari1, Madhumati Otiv, Mahendra Hoge

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, KEM Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India. kemhrc@vsnl.com

Indian Pediatrics
|March 28, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Children born with low birth weight (LBW) who were born preterm and small for gestational age (SGA) showed reduced growth and lower IQ scores at 12 years. Maternal factors significantly influenced offspring growth.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Neonatology
  • Growth and Development

Background:

  • Low birth weight (LBW) infants require long-term monitoring for growth and developmental outcomes.
  • Understanding the impact of prematurity and SGA on childhood development is crucial for early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the growth and sexual maturity of non-handicapped children born with a birth weight less than 2000 g at 12 years of age.
  • To identify factors influencing growth and cognitive development in this cohort.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective cohort study of 180 LBW infants followed from birth (1987-1989) to 12 years.
  • Measurements included height, weight, head circumference, sexual maturity (Tanner score), and IQ (Weschler Scale).
  • Parental anthropometrics were recorded; menarche age reported by parents.

Main Results:

  • Preterm SGA children exhibited significantly reduced height, weight, and head circumference compared to controls.
  • No significant differences in sexual maturity or age of menarche were observed.
  • A correlation between head circumference and IQ was found, with preterm SGA children having the lowest mean IQ.
  • Maternal height and weight were significant determinants of offspring height and weight at 12 years.

Conclusions:

  • Preterm SGA children experience impaired physical growth and cognitive development.
  • Maternal anthropometrics play a vital role in determining offspring growth outcomes.
  • Early identification and support for LBW infants, particularly those born preterm SGA, are essential.
Abstract

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