Developmental outcomes of very low birth weight infants with catch-up head growth: a nationwide cohort study

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Updated: Jul 19, 2025

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
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Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study

Published on: February 2, 2017

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You Mi Hong1, Dong Hue Cho2,3, Jin Kyu Kim4,5

  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.

BMC Pediatrics
|August 8, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Head growth catch-up in premature infants is linked to better neurodevelopmental outcomes. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia and necrotizing enterocolitis significantly impact head growth catch-up in very low birth weight infants.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatalogy
  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Perinatal Epidemiology

Background:

  • Increasing survival rates of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants raise concerns about their neurodevelopmental outcomes.
  • Head growth patterns in VLBW infants are critical indicators of neurological development.
  • Understanding factors influencing head growth and subsequent development is essential for improving long-term outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine demographic and perinatal characteristics of premature infants based on head growth.
  • To identify clinical factors influencing catch-up head growth in VLBW infants.
  • To explore differences in developmental outcomes between infants with and without catch-up head growth.

Main Methods:

  • A nationwide prospective cohort study using Korean Neonatal Network data (2014-2017).
  • Inclusion of 253 very low birth weight (<1,500g) premature infants assessed with Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition.
  • Classification into catch-up (CU) and no catch-up (NCU) groups based on head circumference at 18-24 months corrected age.

Main Results:

  • 81.4% of VLBW infants achieved catch-up head growth by 18-24 months corrected age.
  • The no catch-up group had significantly higher rates of microcephaly, intraventricular hemorrhage, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis, and required more NICU support.
  • Bronchopulmonary dysplasia was the most influential factor affecting catch-up head growth (aOR 4.586).
  • The no catch-up group showed lower developmental indices and higher rates of developmental delay, particularly motor delay (aOR 10.727 after adjusting for morbidities).

Conclusions:

  • Head growth catch-up status is associated with neurodevelopmental outcomes in VLBW infants at 18-24 months corrected age.
  • Bronchopulmonary dysplasia, necrotizing enterocolitis, parenteral nutrition duration, and ventilator care are key clinical factors linked to catch-up status.
  • Further research is required to establish causality and identify additional factors influencing developmental trajectories in this vulnerable population.
Abstract

Keywords:
Bronchopulmonary dysplasiaCatch-up head growthDevelopmental delayHead circumferenceVery low birth weight

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