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Updated: Aug 9, 2025
Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
Early postnatal weight loss does not affect the 2-year neurodevelopment in preterm infants of less than 32 weeks
Alessio Correani1,2, Chiara Biagetti2, Ilaria Burattini2
1Department of Odontostomatologic and Specialized Clinical Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy.
Insights
Early postnatal weight loss (PWL) in preterm infants does not impact neurodevelopment at two years. Even with significant weight loss, outcomes were similar to infants with less weight loss.
Area of Science:
- Neonatology
- Pediatric Neurology
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Early postnatal weight loss (PWL) is common in preterm infants.
- The association between the magnitude of PWL and long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between early postnatal weight loss (PWL) and neurodevelopmental outcomes at 2-year corrected age in preterm infants.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of preterm infants (24 0/7 to 31 6/7 weeks gestation) admitted between 2006-2019.
- Comparison of infants with PWL ≥ 10% versus PWL < 10%.
- Matched cohort analysis using gestational age and birth weight.
Main Results:
- 812 infants analyzed; 471 (58%) had PWL ≥ 10% and 341 (42%) had PWL < 10%.
- Anthropometry and neurodevelopment at 2 years were similar between groups, despite lower body weight and length at 36 weeks in the PWL ≥ 10% group.
- No significant differences in amino acid and energy intake were observed between groups.
Conclusions:
- Early postnatal weight loss (PWL) does not appear to affect neurodevelopment at 2 years in preterm infants born before 32 weeks.
- Nutritional intake (amino acids and energy) was similar between groups, suggesting it may not be the sole factor mediating outcomes.
Aim:
It is still unclear if the magnitude of early postnatal weight loss (PWL) could be associated with neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm infants. We studied the association between PWL and neurodevelopment at 2-year corrected age in preterm infants.
Methods:
We retrospectively reviewed data of preterm infants with a gestational age between 24 + 0 and 31 + 6 weeks/days, admitted at the G.Salesi Children's Hospital, Ancona, Italy, between 1 January 2006 and 31 December 2019. Infants with PWL greater than or equal to 10% (PWL ≥ 10%) were compared with those with PWL of less than 10% (PWL < 10%). A matched cohort analysis was also performed using gestational age and birth weight as matching variables.
Results:
We analysed 812 infants: 471 (58%) PWL ≥ 10% and 341 (42%) PWL < 10%. A subgroup of 247 PWL ≥ 10% was closely match-paired with 247 PWL < 10% infants. There were no differences in amino acid and energy intakes from birth to day 14 of life and from birth to 36 weeks. Although at 36 weeks, body weight and total length were lower in PWL ≥ 10% than PWL < 10%, anthropometry and neurodevelopment at 2 years were similar between groups.
Conclusion:
Given similar amino acid and energy intakes on PWL ≥ 10% and PWL < 10% preterm infants of less than 32 + 0 weeks/days, PWL does not affect 2-year neurodevelopment.
