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Mild small-for-gestational-age as a non-negligible risk factor for short stature

Ryunosuke Higuchi1, Hiroshi Koga1, Noriko Sugino2

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, National Hospital Organization Beppu Medical Center, Beppu, Japan.

Early Human Development
|December 29, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Mild small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants may face a significant risk of short stature. Even with mild SGA, 18% of children were below -2 standard deviations in height by age 3.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Neonatology
  • Growth and Development

Background:

  • Small-for-gestational-age (SGA) is defined by birthweight below the 10th percentile.
  • The long-term growth outcomes for infants with mild SGA (birthweight ≥-2 standard deviations) are not fully understood.
  • Short stature is a significant concern for pediatricians and parents.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the risk of subsequent short stature in mild small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants.
  • To determine the prevalence of height below -2 standard deviations at 3 years of age in this cohort.

Main Methods:

  • A multicenter cohort study was conducted in Japan.
  • Infants classified as mild SGA (birthweight <10th percentile and ≥-2 standard deviations) were included.
  • Height measurements were taken at 3 years of age.

Main Results:

  • A notable percentage of mild SGA infants (18%) exhibited a height below -2 standard deviations at 3 years old.
  • This finding highlights a persistent risk of short stature in this population.
  • The results underscore the need for monitoring growth in mild SGA infants.

Conclusions:

  • Mild small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants are at a considerable risk for developing short stature.
  • Routine growth monitoring is crucial for identifying and managing potential growth issues in these children.
  • Further research may explore interventions to optimize growth in mild SGA populations.

Keywords:
Birth cohortFetal growth retardationGrowth disordersHealth correlatesObservational study

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