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[Follow-up of infants with birth weight under 1,500 g]
Insights
Infants born small for gestational age face risks of undernutrition, while those adequate for gestational age are prone to permanent health issues like cerebral palsy and vision impairment.
Area of Science:
- Neonatalogy
- Pediatric Health
- Developmental Pediatrics
Context:
- Prospective study involving 199 children with birth weight under 1,500 g.
- Follow-up data collected on infant health and developmental outcomes.
- Analysis of risk factors associated with birth weight and gestational age.
Purpose:
- To investigate the long-term health outcomes and developmental sequelae in preterm infants.
- To identify specific risks associated with being small for gestational age versus adequate for gestational age.
- To compare the incidence of major impairments between these two groups.
Summary:
- Infants adequate for gestational age (AGA) experienced higher hospitalization rates in the first year.
- Small for gestational age (SGA) infants showed a greater prevalence of undernutrition.
- Cerebral palsy, hearing loss (hipoacusia), and retinopathy of prematurity were more common in AGA infants after two years.
Impact:
- Highlights distinct risks for SGA and AGA infants, informing targeted interventions.
- Emphasizes the need for continued monitoring and support for high-risk preterm populations.
- Provides evidence for the long-term consequences of birth weight classification in preterm infants.
Abstract:
A prospective study of 199 children with birth weight less than 1,500 g was done. 86 boys and 113 girls, 141 (71%) adequate for gestational age and 58 (29%) small for gestational age. At follow-up 43 (21.6%) infants were lost to control, 17 (7%) moved to other places and 7 (3.5%) died in the first year of life. In the first year of life, infants whose birthweights were adequate for gestational age had been hospitalized more frequently and the small for dates showed higher percentage of undernutrition. After the second year of life, it was possible to know the impairment. It was found 7.4% of cerebral palsy, 2.9% of hipoacusia and 2.2% of retinopathy of prematurity, these diagnosis were most frequent in children that were adequate for gestational age. We concluded that small for dates infants are at risk of undernutrition and that those adequate for gestational age are at risk of permanent sequelae.