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Impact of perinatal factors on growth deficits of preterm infants

Ana Lucia Goulart1, Mauro Batista de Morais, Benjamin Israel Kopelman

  • 1Departamento de Pediatria, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. analugoulart@uol.com.br

Revista Da Associacao Medica Brasileira (1992)
|June 22, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Preterm infants born weighing less than 2,000 grams often experience growth deficits by one year corrected age. Factors like being small for gestational age and birth resuscitation significantly impact weight, length, and head circumference growth.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatalogy
  • Pediatric Growth and Development
  • Perinatal Medicine

Background:

  • Preterm infants, particularly those with low birth weight, are at risk for growth deficits.
  • Understanding perinatal factors is crucial for early intervention and improving long-term outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify perinatal factors associated with growth deficits in preterm infants at one year corrected age.
  • To analyze the impact of intrauterine and postnatal growth restriction on infant development.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort study involving 303 preterm infants with birth weight less than 2,000 grams.
  • Calculation of weight-for-age (W/A), length-for-age (L/A), and head circumference-for-age (HC/A) Z-scores and percentiles using CDC curves at one year corrected age.
  • Logistic regression analysis to determine factors associated with growth deficits.

Main Results:

  • High frequencies of growth deficits were observed: 43.2% for W/A < 10th percentile (P10), 22.1% for L/A < P10, and 15.8% for HC/A < P10.
  • Resuscitation at birth and being small for gestational age were associated with higher odds of W/A deficits.
  • Reduced birth length increased odds for L/A deficits, while small for gestational age and very low birth weight (<1,000g) were linked to HC/A deficits.

Conclusions:

  • Preterm infants (<2,000g) exhibit significant growth deficits by one year corrected age.
  • Intrauterine and postnatal growth restriction are key predictors of these deficits.
  • Associated factors vary depending on the specific growth parameter measured, highlighting the complexity of growth regulation in this population.
Abstract

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