Standards for evaluating neonatal growth outcomes using individualized pathological growth potential realization...

Area of Science:

• Neonatalogy
• Pediatric Growth Monitoring
• Biometry

Background:

• Accurate assessment of neonatal growth is crucial for identifying potential health issues early.
• Existing methods may lack precision in quantifying deviations from expected growth trajectories.
• Individualized Growth Assessment (IGA) offers a personalized approach to monitoring growth patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish reference standards for detecting neonatal growth abnormalities.
• To introduce and validate the average pathological Growth Potential Realization Index (av. pGPRI) as a quantitative measure of growth pathology.
• To provide a framework for classifying neonatal growth outcomes based on individualized growth potentials.

Main Methods:

• Individualized Growth Assessment (IGA) was applied to 117 neonates with normal growth outcomes.
• Growth Potential Realization Index (GPRI) values were calculated using predicted and actual birth measurements derived from Rossavik size models.
• Average pathological Growth Potential Realization Index (av. pGPRI) was computed using two sets of measurements: Weight (WT), Head Circumference (HC), Chest Circumference (CHL) and WT, HC, Abdominal Circumference (AC), Thigh Circumference (ThC), CHL.

Main Results:

• The 95% reference range for av. +pGPRI in the WT, HC, CHL set was 0% to +0.50%.
• The 95% reference range for av. -pGPRI in the WT, HC, CHL set was 0% to -0.40%.
• In the more comprehensive WT, HC, AC, ThC, CHL set, the 95% reference ranges were 0% to +0.50% for av. +pGPRI and 0% to -0.72% for av. -pGPRI.

Conclusions:

• Standards are provided for classifying neonatal growth outcomes.
• The av. pGPRI serves as a parameter quantifying growth pathology based on individualized growth potentials.
• These standards facilitate the detection of neonatal growth abnormalities.