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Postnatal growth standards for preterm infants: the Preterm Postnatal Follow-up Study of the INTERGROWTH-21(st)

José Villar1, Francesca Giuliani2, Zulfiqar A Bhutta3

  • 1Nuffield Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Oxford Maternal & Perinatal Health Institute, Green Templeton College, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.

The Lancet. Global Health
|October 18, 2015
PubMed

Insights

New growth charts provide accurate assessment for preterm infants. These standards are recommended until 64 weeks postmenstrual age, after which WHO standards apply. Size-at-birth charts are unsuitable for measuring preterm infant growth.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal research
  • Pediatric growth and development
  • Public health

Background:

  • Current size-at-birth charts assume extrauterine growth mirrors intrauterine growth for preterm infants.
  • The INTERGROWTH-21st Project aimed to establish comprehensive fetal, newborn, and postnatal growth standards.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop accurate postnatal growth standards for preterm infants.
  • To determine the appropriate age for transitioning from preterm to general growth standards.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study of low-risk pregnant women, monitoring fetal growth via ultrasonography.
  • Inclusion of all preterm singleton births (26-37 weeks gestation) without congenital anomalies or severe morbidity.
  • Standardized anthropometric measurements and data collection on feeding, morbidity, and development for preterm infants.

Main Results:

  • Developed new postnatal growth standards specifically for preterm infants.
  • Preterm growth patterns were distinct from existing newborn standards.
  • Preterm growth aligned with WHO Child Growth Standards for term infants by 64 weeks postmenstrual age.

Conclusions:

  • Established reliable postnatal growth standards for preterm infants up to 64 weeks postmenstrual age.
  • Recommend using these new standards for preterm infant assessment.
  • Advise against using size-at-birth charts for monitoring preterm infant postnatal growth.
Abstract

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