Effect of early intervention on 8-year growth status of low-birth-weight preterm infants

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Growth and Development
• Early Childhood Education Impact
• Developmental Pediatrics

Background:

• The Infant Health and Development Program (IHDP) demonstrated positive effects on intelligence and adaptive functioning in preterm infants up to age 8.
• Understanding the long-term effects of early educational interventions on physical growth is crucial for child development research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of an early educational intervention on the growth status of children at age 8 years.
• To determine if the IHDP's educational component influences physical growth parameters in preterm infants.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving home and center-based educational interventions.
• Participants included 377 intervention (INT) and 608 non-intervention (NI) children, stratified by birth weight (2001-2500g and <=2000g).
• Educational intervention was provided from nursery discharge until age 3 years, with growth outcomes assessed at age 8.

Main Results:

• At age 8, intervention children were significantly taller (127.6 vs 126.6 cm) and had larger head circumferences (52.5 vs 52.1 cm) compared to non-intervention children.
• Overweight and underweight prevalence was similar between groups (9% and 4.5%, respectively).
• Lighter low-birth-weight intervention children exhibited greater weight (28.0 vs 26.8 kg), head circumference (52.6 vs 52.1 cm), and height (127.6 vs 126.5 cm) than their non-intervention counterparts.

Conclusions:

• The IHDP educational intervention positively impacted the physical growth of low-birth-weight preterm children, particularly the lighter low-birth-weight group.
• Children receiving the intervention demonstrated enhanced growth in terms of weight, height, and head circumference by age 8.
• Early educational experiences can have lasting effects on physical development in vulnerable preterm populations.