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Updated: May 16, 2026
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Critical appraisal of different anthropometric charts to evaluate postnatal growth of preterm infants
E Bertino1, A Coscia, S Arslanoglu
1Neonatal Unit, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy.
Insights
Evaluating preterm infant growth is crucial due to increased survival rates. Current charts are unsuitable, necessitating new standards for accurate postnatal growth assessment.
Area of Science:
- Neonatalogy
- Pediatric Growth Monitoring
- Perinatal Medicine
Background:
- Improved neonatal care has increased preterm infant survival.
- Accurate postnatal growth evaluation for preterm infants is a growing concern.
- Existing growth charts (fetal, neonatal, term postnatal) are inadequate for preterm infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To address the lack of suitable growth charts for preterm infants.
- To highlight the need for standardized postnatal growth evaluation methods.
- To introduce the INTERGROWTH-21st project for preterm infant growth standards.
Main Methods:
- Review of current clinical practices for infant growth monitoring.
- Identification of limitations in existing growth assessment tools.
- Mention of the development of new international growth standards (INTERGROWTH-21st).
Main Results:
- No current chart is ideal for evaluating preterm infant postnatal growth.
- The INTERGROWTH-21st project aims to establish prescriptive growth standards.
- A temporary compromise involves using neonatal charts until term, then WHO/CDC charts.
Conclusions:
- Specific growth charts are needed for preterm infants.
- The INTERGROWTH-21st project offers a potential solution for standardized assessment.
- Current best practice involves a combination of existing charts pending new standards.
Abstract:
Preterm infants' survival has greatly increased in the last few decades thanks to the improvement in obstetrical and neonatal care. The correct evaluation of postnatal growth of these babies is nowadays of primary concern, although the definition of their optimal postnatal growth pattern is still controversial. Concerns have also been raised about the strategies to monitor their growth, specifically in relation to the charts used. At present, the charts available in clinical practice are fetal growth charts, neonatal anthropometric charts and postnatal growth charts for term infants. None of these, for different reasons, is suitable to correctly evaluate preterm infant growth. Recently, an international project has recently started aiming to create prescriptive standard for the evaluation of postnatal growth of preterm infants (INTERGROWTH-21st). Alternatively, at present, while specific charts for evaluating preterm infant postnatal growth are lacking, the best compromise is likely to be as follows: from birth to term neonatal anthropometric charts; International longitudinal charts WHO 2006 or CDC 2002 from term to childhood.
