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Neonatal hyperglycemia and diminished long-term growth in very low birth weight preterm infants

S E Ramel1, J D Long, H Gray

  • 1Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.

Journal of Perinatology : Official Journal of the California Perinatal Association
|July 13, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Early hyperglycemia in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants predicts slower physical growth up to two years corrected age. However, it did not impact neurodevelopmental outcomes on the Bayley scales.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatology
  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Developmental Pediatrics

Background:

  • Neonatal hyperglycemia is a common complication in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.
  • The long-term effects of early hyperglycemia on growth and neurodevelopment in VLBW infants remain incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the association between early hyperglycemia and physical growth and neurodevelopmental outcomes.
  • To assess outcomes from hospital discharge up to 2 years corrected age (CA) in VLBW infants.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective cohort study of 80 VLBW preterm infants.
  • Monitored blood glucose levels in the first 14 days of life.
  • Assessed anthropometric measurements (weight, length, occipital-frontal circumference) and Bayley developmental scores at multiple time points up to 24 months CA.
  • Utilized linear mixed effects regression to analyze relationships between hyperglycemia, growth, and development.

Main Results:

  • Neonatal hyperglycemia was a significant predictor of reduced rates of weight, length, and occipital-frontal circumference increase until 24 months CA.
  • No significant association was found between neonatal hyperglycemia and lower Bayley developmental scores at 12 and 24 months CA.

Conclusions:

  • Early hyperglycemia in VLBW infants is linked to impaired physical growth persisting until at least 2 years corrected age.
  • Neonatal hyperglycemia does not appear to negatively affect neurodevelopmental outcomes as measured by the Bayley scales in this cohort.
Abstract

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