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Late Growth and Changes in Body Composition Influence Odds of Developing Retinopathy of Prematurity among Preterm

Ellen C Ingolfsland1, Jacob L Haapala2, Lauren A Buckley1

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, East Building 6th floor, MB630, 2450 Riverside Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA.

Nutrients
|January 2, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Better infant growth and body fat later in the NICU stay may lower the risk of severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). This study explored growth during the second half of hospitalization in very low birth weight infants.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatalogy
  • Ophthalmology
  • Pediatric Growth

Background:

  • Postnatal growth in early life impacts retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) risk.
  • The effect of later postnatal growth on ROP is not well understood.
  • Retinal vascularization is critical during later neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) hospitalization.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between postnatal growth and body composition in the latter half of NICU hospitalization and ROP severity.
  • To assess growth parameters in very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm infants.
  • To determine if later growth influences ROP outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective observational pilot study involving 83 infants (born <32 weeks gestation, <1500 g).
  • Body composition measured during the second half of NICU stay.
  • Infants evaluated for ROP; logistic regression analysis performed.

Main Results:

  • Increased fat mass, fat-free mass, and percent body fat from 32 to 37 weeks postmenstrual age were linked to reduced odds of ROP stage ≥2.
  • Higher percent body fat at term postmenstrual age also correlated with decreased odds of severe ROP.
  • Statistical significance (p < 0.05) observed for these associations.

Conclusions:

  • Enhanced postnatal growth during the later NICU hospitalization period may decrease ROP severity.
  • Increased adiposity (body fat) at term postmenstrual age appears protective against severe ROP.
  • These findings suggest optimizing later growth could be a strategy to mitigate ROP risk.
Abstract

Keywords:
adipositybody compositionpostnatal growthprematurityretinopathy of prematurity

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