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Postdischarge growth and development in a predominantly Hispanic, very low birth weight population
George C Powers1, Rajam Ramamurthy, John Schoolfield
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr, MSC 7812, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, USA. george_powers@pediatrix.com
Insights
Very low birth weight infants show growth and development patterns that align in early childhood. Premature infants born at less than 26 weeks gestation face higher risks for developmental impairment.
Area of Science:
- Neonatalogy
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Perinatal Medicine
Background:
- Premature infants, especially those with very low birth weight (<1500 g), require close monitoring for postdischarge growth and development.
- Understanding long-term outcomes in diverse populations is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the growth and developmental progress of very low birth weight premature infants up to 3 years of age.
- To identify predictors of neurodevelopmental impairment in this vulnerable population.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 135 very low birth weight infants (23-35 weeks gestation) was followed until 3 years of age.
- Maternal, neonatal, anthropometric, and developmental data were analyzed, considering corrected age for infants up to 24 months.
- Specific criteria for failure to thrive and microcephaly were applied.
Main Results:
- A pattern of initial poor weight gain followed by catch-up growth was observed, with head growth lagging and recovering later.
- Infants born at
- Developmental scores improved over time, with motor skills emerging at 18 months and cognitive skills at 30 months.
- Head growth z scores correlated with developmental scores.
- Infants born at
- Hispanic acculturation, failure to thrive, and microcephaly predicted neurodevelopmental impairment, even after adjusting for gestational age and morbidities.
Conclusions:
- Growth patterns in very low birth weight infants correlate with their developmental progress during the first three years.
- Gestational age of
- Failure to thrive and microcephaly independently increase the risk of neurodevelopmental impairment, irrespective of gestational age.
Objectives:
The goals were to assess postdischarge growth and developmental progress of very low birth weight (birth weight: <1500 g) premature infants in a predominantly Hispanic population and to identify predictors for neurodevelopmental impairment at 3 years of age.
Methods:
A cohort of 135 very low birth weight infants (gestational age: 23 to 35 weeks) were monitored to 3 years of age. Maternal and neonatal characteristics, anthropometric z scores, and developmental performance (using corrected age until 24 months) were analyzed collectively and according to gestational age groups. Specific criteria for failure to thrive and microcephaly were used.
Results:
A characteristic pattern of poor weight gain in the first 12 months was followed by accelerated weight gain starting at 18 months, whereas head growth decreased at 18 months, with recovery beginning at 30 months of age. Infants born at gestational age of
Conclusions:
Very low birth weight infants exhibited growth patterns that coincided with developmental progress in the first 3 years of life. Birth at gestational age of
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