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Proportionality of small-for-gestational age babies at birth: perinatal associations and postnatal sequelae

M Ounsted, V A Moar, A Scott

    Early Human Development
    |October 1, 1986
    PubMed

    Insights

    Small-for-gestational age (SGA) infants with higher head-chest ratios at birth showed faster growth in the first six months. These ratios predicted later weight and head size in girls but not developmental ability.

    Area of Science:

    • Pediatrics
    • Neonatology
    • Human Growth and Development

    Background:

    • Small-for-gestational age (SGA) infants represent a vulnerable population with potential long-term health implications.
    • Anthropometric measurements at birth, such as head and chest circumference, can provide insights into fetal growth and development.
    • Understanding factors influencing these measurements is crucial for monitoring infant health and predicting outcomes.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the relationship between anthropometric ratios (head-chest, head-crown-rump, chest-crown-rump) and gestational age in small-for-gestational age (SGA) infants.
    • To identify factors associated with variations in these ratios at birth.
    • To examine the association between birth head-chest ratios and subsequent growth and developmental outcomes in SGA infants.

    Main Methods:

    • Collected anthropometric measurements (head circumference, chest circumference, crown-rump length) from 413 SGA infants at birth.
    • Calculated head-chest, head-crown-rump, and chest-crown-rump ratios.
    • Analyzed correlations between ratios and factors including gestational age, sex, birth order, maternal pre-eclampsia, mode of delivery, maternal weight, and neonatal complications.
    • Assessed growth and developmental outcomes at 6 months and 7 years of age.

    Main Results:

    • Gestational age and sex were the primary determinants of head-chest ratios in SGA infants after adjusting for confounding variables.
    • Higher head-chest ratios were inversely correlated with gestational age and higher in males than females.
    • SGA infants with higher head-chest ratios exhibited accelerated growth in the first six months.
    • At seven years, girls with higher birth head-chest ratios had increased weight and head circumference, but no significant differences in developmental ability were observed for either sex.

    Conclusions:

    • Gestational age and infant sex significantly influence head-chest ratios in SGA newborns.
    • Head-chest ratio at birth may serve as a predictor of early growth trajectory and later physical characteristics in SGA infants, particularly in girls.
    • While physical growth is associated with head-chest ratios, developmental outcomes at seven years do not appear to be directly influenced by these birth measurements.

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