[Study on height-weight indices in newborns of different gestational ages]

Xiao-Yun Huang1, Hui-Long Liu, Hui-Fen Mai

  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Bao'an District of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518133, China. lhl1816@126.com.

Insights

This study established height-weight indices for newborns across different gestational ages, finding that body density and enrichment increase with gestation. These newborn growth parameters were higher in boys than girls.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal research
  • Pediatric growth assessment
  • Anthropometry

Context:

  • Accurate assessment of newborn growth is essential for identifying potential health issues.
  • Establishing normative data for height-weight indices across gestational ages is critical for clinical practice.
  • Previous studies may lack comprehensive data for diverse populations or specific indices.

Purpose:

  • To establish normative height-weight indices for newborns across a range of gestational ages (28-44 weeks).
  • To provide reference data for evaluating intrauterine fetal growth and development.
  • To compare gender-specific differences in these growth indices.

Summary:

  • Five gender-specific height-weight indices (Quetelet Index, Kaup Index, Rohrer Index, Livi Index, Polock Index) were calculated for 8,357 newborns in Shenzhen, China.
  • All indices demonstrated a positive correlation with increasing gestational age, peaking between 41-43 weeks.
  • Three indices (QI, KI, PI) were significantly higher in male newborns than in female newborns.

Impact:

  • Provides essential reference data for clinicians to assess newborn growth and identify potential deviations from norms.
  • Contributes to a better understanding of fetal development patterns and gender-specific growth trajectories.
  • Supports early identification and management of growth-related concerns in neonates.
Abstract

Related Concept Videos

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children01:29

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children

Pediatric patient dosages diverge from adults due to disparities in body surface area, total body water, and extracellular fluid per kilogram of body weight. The dosing regimen considers the variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacology across distinct age groups, encompassing preterm newborns, infants, young children, older children, and adolescents. Calculation of pediatric patient doses is predicated on determining body surface area, which exhibits a superior correlation with the child's...
744
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution01:17

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight,...
462
z Scores and Area Under the Curve01:17

z Scores and Area Under the Curve

z scores are the standardized values obtained after converting a normal distribution into a standard normal distribution. A z score is measured in units of the standard deviation. The z score tells you how many standard deviations the value x is above (to the right of) or below (to the left of) the mean, μ. Values of x that are larger than the mean have positive z scores, and values of x that are smaller than the mean have negative z scores. If x equals the mean, then x has a z score of...
20.2K
Drug Dosing: Obese Patients01:21

Drug Dosing: Obese Patients

In the United States, obesity is a prominent concern. It is linked to heightened mortality rates due to increased occurrences of conditions such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, and diabetes compared to nonobese individuals. A patient is classified as obese if their actual body weight surpasses the ideal or desirable body weight by 20%, based on Metropolitan Life Insurance Company data. Ideal body weights consider average weights and heights for males and females...
339
Normal Distribution01:11

Normal Distribution

The normal, a continuous distribution, is the most important of all the distributions. Its graph is a bell-shaped symmetrical curve, which is observed in almost all disciplines. Some of these include psychology, business, economics, the sciences, nursing, and, of course, mathematics. Some instructors may use the normal distribution to help determine students’ grades. Most IQ scores are normally distributed. Often real-estate prices fit a normal distribution. The normal distribution is...
18.3K
Applications of Normal Distribution01:22

Applications of Normal Distribution

The normal distribution is a useful statistical tool. One of its practical applications is determining the door height after considering the normal distribution of heights of persons, such that many can pass through it easily without striking their heads. The normal distribution can also determine the probability of a person having a height less than a specific height.
The heights of 15 to 18-year-old males from Chile from 1984 to 1985 followed a normal distribution. The mean height is 172.36...
10.1K