Reference values of anthropometric measurements in healthy late preterm and term infants

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Anthropometry
• Neonatal Health

Background:

• Societal factors like geography and ethnicity influence anthropometric measurements.
• Establishing population-specific reference values is crucial for accurate assessments.
• Previous studies lacked specific data for late preterm and term infants within this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine anthropometric measurements of healthy late preterm and term infants.
• To compare these measurements with national and international data.
• To provide reference values for clinical use in a specific population.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 1197 infants (gestational age ≥35 weeks).
• Measurements included chest circumference, ear length, foot length, palmar length, middle finger length, philtrum distance, inner and outer canthal distances, and palpebral fissure length.
• Data collected within the first 24 hours of life.

Main Results:

• Late preterm infants exhibited smaller measurements than term infants (P < 0.05).
• Female infants had lower chest circumference, ear length, foot length, palmar length, philtrum distance, and inner canthal distances compared to males (P < 0.05).
• No significant sex differences were observed in middle finger length, outer canthal distance, or palpebral fissure length.

Conclusions:

• Established percentile values for male and female infants (35–42 weeks gestation).
• These population-specific anthropometric data can aid in the early detection of syndromes.
• Identifying anatomical abnormalities through these measurements is valuable for clinical practice.