Neonatal anthropometry at 3400 m above sea level compared with INTERGROWTH 21st standards

To determine the 3rd, 10th, 50th, 90th and 97th percentile of weight, length and head circumference (HC) of male and female neonates born at 3400 m above sea level and compare with published INTERGROWTH 21st standards.

Observational, transverse analytical study conducted in the National Hospital Adolfo Guevara Velazco of the ESSALUD hospital system in Cusco, Peru, at 3400 m altitude, during the period of January 2005 to December 2010. Using inclusion criteria, 7635 newborns were selected. The 3rd, 10th, 50th, 90th and 97th percentiles for the anthropometric measurements of birthweight, length and HC were determined for each sex and the results analyzed via polynomial regression for each percentile in order to compare the results with INTERGROWTH 21st standards.

No statistically significant difference was observed with the exception of female HC at the 97th percentile when compared with the INTERGROWTH 21st standards.

Based on tables generated in the present study, neonatal anthropometric percentiles at term at 3400 m above sea level demonstrate no appreciable difference with INTERGROWTH 21st standards with the exception of female HC at the 97th percentile.