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Physical Growth, Morbidity Profile and Mortality Among Healthy Late Preterm Neonates

Priyanka Gupta1, Ritu Mital, Bimlesh Kumar

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, LLRM Medical College, Meerut, UP, India. Correspondence to: Dr Amit Upadhyay, Head, Department of Pediatrics, LLRM Medical College, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India. au.llrm@gmail.com.

Indian Pediatrics
|June 14, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Late preterm infants show significantly lower growth and higher illness rates by 12 months compared to term infants. These findings highlight the increased vulnerability of late preterm babies during their first year.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Health
  • Pediatric Growth and Development
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Late preterm infants (34-36 weeks gestation) represent a significant proportion of births.
  • These infants may face unique challenges compared to full-term neonates.
  • Understanding their long-term outcomes is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare physical growth, morbidity, and mortality at 12 months between late preterm and term infants.
  • To identify specific health risks associated with late preterm birth.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective cohort study was conducted in Northern India.
  • 200 apparently healthy late preterm and term infants were followed up to 12 months.
  • Key outcomes included physical growth parameters, morbidity profile, and mortality.

Main Results:

  • Late preterm infants had significantly lower mean weight, length, and head circumference at 12 months (P<0.001).
  • Higher odds of being underweight (adjusted OR 4.1), stunted, and wasted were observed in late preterms.
  • Increased rates of feeding difficulties, jaundice, re-hospitalization, diarrhea, and fever were noted in the late preterm group.

Conclusions:

  • Healthy late preterm infants are at a significantly higher risk of being underweight in the first year of life.
  • Late preterm birth is associated with increased morbidity during infancy.
  • These findings underscore the need for continued monitoring and support for late preterm infants.
Abstract

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