Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 14, 2026
Author Spotlight: Marmoset Research - Scope and Challenges
Published on: June 9, 2023
Growth prediction of small for gestational age infants within the first weeks after birth
Christoph Beger1, Andrea Merker2, Rebekka Mumm3
1Growth Network CrescNet, löschen University of Leipzig, Philipp-Rosenthal-Straße 27b, 04103 Leipzig, Germany Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics and Epidemiology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
Insights
Small for gestational age (SGA) infants who don't experience catch-up growth in height SDS within the first 16 weeks may face long-term growth failure. Early identification of non-catch-up SGA infants is crucial for timely intervention.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neonatology
- Growth and Development
Background:
- Small for gestational age (SGA) is linked to intrauterine growth restriction and potential long-term health issues.
- Compensatory growth (catch-up growth) in infancy is observed in some SGA neonates, but its precise timing and implications for persistent growth failure are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the timing of catch-up growth in small for gestational age (SGA) infants.
- To identify early indicators of persistent growth failure in SGA infants based on catch-up growth patterns.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal data analysis of 5,138 small for gestational age (SGA) infants and children in Germany.
- Centralized data collection via the CrescNet Database Management System at the University of Leipzig.
- Assessment of height Standard Deviation Score (SDS) from birth up to 5 years, focusing on the 4th to 16th postnatal weeks.
Main Results:
- Catch-up in height SDS was confirmed in 2,712 out of 2,846 (95.3%) small for gestational age (SGA) infants within the first two years.
- Catch-up growth primarily occurred between the 4th and 16th postnatal weeks.
- SGA infants lacking catch-up growth within this early window exhibited significantly lower height SDS throughout the first five years, particularly between 60-64 months (-1.33 SDS in catch-up group vs. -2.49 SDS in non-catch-up group).
Conclusions:
- Absence of catch-up growth in height SDS between the 4th and 16th postnatal weeks is a significant predictor of sustained growth failure in small for gestational age (SGA) infants.
- Early identification of SGA infants not exhibiting catch-up growth during this critical period allows for early risk assessment for long-term growth failure.
- This finding aids in identifying high-risk SGA infants who may require closer monitoring or intervention to mitigate subsequent growth deficits.
Abstract:
Being born small for gestational age (SGA) in length is a sign of growth failure due to malnutrition in pregnancy or other serious disorders. In previous publications it was shown that SGA born neonates may experience a compensatory growth spurt (catch-up growth) in infancy and childhood (Olbertz et al. in press). The timing of this growth spurt, however, was not well described. We analyzed longitudinal data of 5,138 SGA infants and children, collected by licensed physicians in Germany and centrally stored in the Database Management System of CrescNet at the University of Leipzig. We confirm that SGA born infants undergo a catch-up in height SDS after birth and up to 2 years of life. 2,712 SGA newborns out of 2,846 showed catch-up in length SDS. The catch-up occurred already during the 4th to 16th postnatal weeks. We analyzed infants who did not show a catch-up within this time period, or even had a loss in height SDS. These infants have a significant lower height SDS throughout the first 5 years after birth and especially in the timeframe of 60th to 64th month after birth (-1.33 mean height SDS in catch-up group, -2.49 in non-catch-up group, p-value < 0.001, CI = [0.827, 1.483]). Even though the medical reasons for the lack of catch-up growth in young SGA infants may not be known, absence of this catch-up within the 4th to 16th postnatal week can be used to early identify SGA infants with high risk of growth failure within the following 5 years.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Birth Control Methods
02:27Predicting Molecular Geometry
01:22Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational
01:26Aging
Cellular Clock Theory
The cellular clock theory posits that the human lifespan is closely tied to the finite capacity of cells to divide, a phenomenon governed by telomeres, which are protective caps at the ends of...
01:03Prediction Intervals
However, the point estimate is most likely not the exact value of the population parameter, but close to it. After calculating point estimates, we construct interval estimates, called confidence intervals or prediction intervals. This prediction interval comprises a range of values unlike the point estimate and is a better predictor of the observed sample value, y.
01:29Drug Dosing: Infants and Children