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Neonatal growth charts

Enrico Bertino1, Paola Di Nicola, Alessia Varalda

  • 1Cattedra di Neonatologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Pediatriche e dell'Adolescenza, Università degli Studi di Torino, Torino, Italy. enrico.bertino@unito.it

The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine : the Official Journal of the European Association of Perinatal Medicine, the Federation of Asia and Oceania Perinatal Societies, the International Society of Perinatal Obstetricians
|February 22, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Accurate neonatal growth assessment is crucial. New Italian Neonatal Study (INeS) charts offer improved neonatal anthropometric references, addressing limitations of existing growth charts for preterm infants.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatology
  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Medical Statistics
  • Clinical Epidemiology

Background:

  • Recognizing abnormal growth at birth and intrauterine malnutrition is vital for neonatal care and prognosis.
  • Current neonatal auxological evaluation relies on anthropometric and intrauterine growth charts, but methodological issues limit comparability.
  • Existing charts have limitations for monitoring the postnatal growth of preterm newborns.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To produce reliable Italian neonatal anthropometric reference charts (INeS charts) meeting stringent criteria.
  • To address the need for improved growth monitoring tools for preterm infants.
  • To establish a comprehensive growth monitoring strategy for infants from birth to 20 years.

Main Methods:

  • A multicenter survey was promoted by leading Italian medical societies.
  • Development of new Italian Neonatal Study (INeS) charts for neonatal anthropometry.
  • Integration of international longitudinal charts (WHO 2006, CDC 2002) and SIEDP charts for comprehensive growth monitoring.

Main Results:

  • The INeS charts provide a reliable reference for neonatal anthropometry up to term.
  • A proposed strategy combines INeS charts, WHO/CDC charts, and SIEDP charts for continuous growth monitoring.
  • This approach aims to overcome limitations of existing charts for preterm infant growth assessment.

Conclusions:

  • The INeS charts represent a significant advancement in Italian neonatal anthropometric references.
  • A combined approach using INeS, WHO/CDC, and SIEDP charts offers a practical solution for monitoring infant growth in Italy.
  • This strategy enhances the evaluation of postnatal growth for preterm infants from birth to 20 years.

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