[Risk factors for malnutrition at two years of corrected age in preterm infants under 32 weeks]
Patricia Vernal Silva1, Patricia Mena Nannig2, Alexis Diaz Gonzalez3
1Hospital San Jose, Santiago, Chile.
Insights
Premature infants under 32 weeks face risks of malnutrition. Early identification of birth weight and 6-month Body Mass Index (BMI) can predict overweight or underweight at 24 months.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal nutrition and growth
- Pediatric endocrinology
- Public health and epidemiology
Context:
- Post-discharge nutrition is critical for preterm infants to achieve optimal growth.
- Chilean premature infants (<32 weeks) receive fortified formulas, but exclusive breastfeeding is an alternative.
- Monitoring growth and nutritional status is essential for this vulnerable population.
Purpose:
- To describe the growth patterns of preterm infants up to 24 months corrected age.
- To identify the prevalence of malnutrition (underweight and overweight) at 24 months.
- To determine factors associated with malnutrition risk in this cohort.
Summary:
- A retrospective cohort study analyzed 996 preterm infants (<32 weeks gestation).
- At 24 months corrected age, 17.1% were underweight and 18.4% were overweight.
- Higher birth weight (>1460g) and 6-month BMI (>1.6) increased overweight risk; lower birth weight (<1000g) and 6-month BMI (<-0.75) increased underweight risk.
Impact:
- Early identification of high-risk infants can guide timely nutritional interventions.
- Findings highlight the importance of monitoring Body Mass Index (BMI) Z-scores in preterm infants.
- This research contributes to optimizing long-term health outcomes for extremely preterm populations.
Abstract:
Post-discharge nutrition of preterm newborns must avoid excessive or insufficient weight gain and optimal length and head circumference growth. In Chile, premature infants less than 32 wee ks at birth receive fortified formulas during the first year, unless they are exclusively breastfed.
Objective:
To describe growth and identify the risk of malnutrition at 24 months.
Patients And Method:
Retrospective cohort study that analyzes growth from birth to 2 years of corrected age in preterm patients < 32 weeks of gestational age. Z-score of weight, length, head circumference, and Body Mass Index (BMI) were analyzed. Factors related to Z BMI at 24 months were analyzed as follows: Eutrophic: Z BMI between -1 and +1; Overweight: Z BMI > +1; Underweight: Z BMI < -1.
Results:
996 preterm infants were included, 559 completed check-ups at 24 months. 64.5% were eutrophic, 18.4% overweight, and 17.1% underweight. Multivariate analysis showed that risk of overweight was associated with birth weight > 1460 g: OR 5.77 (2.11-15.77) and Z BMI > 1.6 at 6 months: OR 2.67 (1.91-3.74); underweight risk was associated with birth weight < 1000g: OR 3.1 (1.1-8.8) and Z BMI < -0.75 at 6 months: OR 8.2 (4.3-16.3).
Conclusions:
The greater risk of overweight and underweight can be anticipated in premature infants under 32 weeks with birth weight or Z BMI at 6 months of corrected age.
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