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Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
09:36

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study

Published on: February 2, 2017

Height at 2 and 5 years of age in children born very preterm: the EPIPAGE study

V Pierrat1, L Marchand-Martin, I Guemas

  • 1Neonatal Unit, University Teaching Hospital, Hôpital Jeanne de Flandre, Lille Cedex, France. vpierrat@chru-lille.fr

Archives of Disease in Childhood. Fetal and Neonatal Edition
|January 19, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Short stature is common in preterm infants, especially those with growth restraint. Systemic steroids increase risk, while breastfeeding may be protective for growth outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Neonatology
  • Growth and Development

Background:

  • Preterm birth is associated with various developmental challenges.
  • Children born preterm, particularly those small-for-gestational age (SGA) or with ex utero growth restraint (GR), face increased risks of growth abnormalities.
  • Understanding long-term growth trajectories and identifying associated risk factors is crucial for early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess growth patterns in very preterm infants up to 5 years of age.
  • To specifically evaluate growth in infants born SGA or with ex utero GR.
  • To identify key risk factors contributing to short stature at 5 years of age.

Main Methods:

  • A population-based cohort study (EPIPAGE) included children born before 33 weeks gestation.
  • Short stature was defined as height <-2SD using WHO growth curves.
  • Logistic regression analyses identified predictors of short stature, considering factors like SGA, maternal height, gestational age, and corticosteroid use.

Main Results:

  • Short stature affected 5.6% of very preterm children by age 5.
  • Among children with available data at 2 and 5 years, 24% born SGA and 36% with ex utero GR exhibited short stature.
  • Risk factors for short stature included SGA, maternal height ≤ 160 cm, gestational age <29 weeks, and systemic corticosteroid exposure.

Conclusions:

  • Short stature is a significant concern for children born preterm, with higher prevalence in those experiencing ex utero GR.
  • Systemic corticosteroid use demonstrates a lasting negative impact on growth, warranting cautious application.
  • Breastfeeding at discharge emerged as a protective factor against developing short stature.
Abstract

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