Clinical and Nutritional Determinants of Extrauterine Growth Restriction Among Very Low Birth Weight Infants

To identify the clinical and nutritional factors associated with extrauterine growth restriction (EUGR) among very low birth weight infants (VLBW) in a tertiary hospital in Jordan.

We conducted a retrospective analysis of all VLBW infants admitted at King Abdullah University Hospital between July 2015 and June 2020. Clinical factors, nutritional intake, and growth parameters were collected and analyzed. A multilogistic regression model was applied to identify factors associated with EUGR.

Of the 247 VLBW infants included in analysis, 112 (45%) were males, 30 (12%) were below 1000 g, and 72 (29%) were small for gestational age (SGA). EUGR was diagnosed in 198 (80%) at discharge. The rates of EUGR among SGA and non-SGA infants were 97% and 73%, respectively. The EUGR infants had a higher gestational age (30.7 vs 29.8 weeks, p=0.04), a lower birth weight (1209 vs 1300 g, p=0.005), a longer ventilatory support (5.7 vs 2.2 days, p=0.03), a higher incidence of sepsis (23% vs 10%, p=0.05), and a longer hospitalization (46 vs 38 days, p=0.03). With multilogistic regression model, the factors associated with EUGR include small-for-gestational age (AOR 9, 95% C.I. 2, 50), >3-day delay in feeding initiation (AOR 3.8, 95% C.I. 1.2,10), >14-day delay in achieving full feeds (AOR 3.3, 95% C.I. 1.2, 8), <3 g/kg of protein intake on the 8th day (AOR 2.1, 95% C.I. 1.1, 4.1), <100 kcal/kg of total caloric intake on the 15th day (AOR 3.8, 95% C.I. 1.6, 8.9), and occurrence of sepsis (AOR 3, 95% C.I. 1.1, 9).

The rate of EUGR in our unit is high. In addition to being SGA at birth, sepsis and suboptimal protein and caloric intake in the first two weeks of life were significantly associated with this complication. A more aggressive enteral and parenteral nutritional approach is needed to minimize postnatal growth delay.