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Pre-discharge growth pattern of very low birth weight infants (VLBW): A 5 year single center experience
S H Elbeely1, M A AlQurashi2,3,4
1Department of Pediatrics and Child Health College of Medicine, University of Kartoum, Kartoum, Sudan.
Insights
Very low birth weight (VLBW) infants often experience Ex-utero Growth Restriction (EUGR). Premature infants, especially those born weighing less than 750 grams, show poor growth, with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) being a significant contributing factor.
Area of Science:
- Neonatalogy
- Pediatric Growth and Development
- Perinatal Medicine
Background:
- Premature infants, particularly very low birth weight (VLBW) neonates, face heightened risks of growth delays, leading to Ex-utero Growth Restriction (EUGR).
- Early growth failure in VLBW infants is linked to long-term adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes persisting into adulthood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the predischarge growth patterns of VLBW infants.
- To identify key variables influencing the growth of VLBW infants admitted to KAMC-Jeddah.
Main Methods:
- A single-center, cross-sectional study was conducted on live newborn infants.
- Included were VLBW infants (500-1500g, 24-32 weeks gestational age) admitted to NICU from 2009-2013.
- Evaluated predischarge growth in weight, head circumference (HC), and length.
Main Results:
- Of 135 VLBW infants, 68% had discharge weight ≤10th percentile; 62% had length ≤10th percentile.
- Among infants born ≤750g, 71% had HC and 70% had length ≤10th percentile at discharge.
- Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) was significantly associated with EUGR (p=0.026).
Conclusions:
- Nearly two-thirds of VLBW infants (birth weight ≤750g) at KAMC-Jeddah were discharged with EUGR.
- EUGR was evident in weight, length, and HC measurements at discharge.
- BPD emerged as a significant post-natal factor associated with EUGR in this cohort.
Background:
Very low birth weight infants born prematurely are at greater risk for growth delays that lead to Ex-utero Growth Restriction (EUGR) during vulnerable periods of organ structural and functional development. There is considerable evidence that early growth failure has adverse effects on long term neurodevelopment in children which often persists into adulthood.
Methods:
This is a single-center cross-sectional study on live newborn infants with birth weight ranges from 500 to 1500 grams (VLBW) and gestational age (GA) between 24-32 weeks who were admitted to NICU at KAMC-Jeddah over a 5 year period (2009-2013). This study aims to evaluate predischarge growth pattern of VLBW infants in terms of weight, head circumference (HC) and length and to identify important variables that have influenced such growth pattern.
Results:
Of the 135 infants included in the final analysis, 68 (50.4%) were male and 67 (49.6%) were female and the mean gestational age was 28.83±2.064 weeks and the mean birth weight 1166.74±256 grams. Ninety-two infants (68%) had discharge weight at ≤10th percentile and forty four (32%) had their weight >10th percentile. HC was the lowest affected among the anthropometric measurements with 42% ≤10th percentile. In terms of linear growth, 62% had their length ≤10th percentile. Amongst infants born ≤750 grams, 71% and 70% had HC and height at ≤10th percentile respectively, at the time of discharge. BPD was significantly associated with EUGR (p = 0.026).
Conclusions:
This study demonstrates that almost 2/3rd of VLBW infants born at KAMC-Jeddah with birth weight ≤750 grams were discharged home with EUGR as demonstrated by their weight, length, and HC ≤10th percentile. BPD was found to be significantly associated with EUGR amongst post-natal factors influencing EUGR.
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