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[Longitudinal study on catch-up growth in preterm infants with small for gestational age at corrected ages 0-24
Jia-Mei Li1, Qun-Ying Xie1, Yu-Qi Wen1
1Department of Child Health Care, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou 510623, China (Hu Y, Email: yayayan1979@163. com).
Insights
Small for gestational age (SGA) preterm infants show delayed growth but achieve higher catch-up growth rates by 24 months corrected age than appropriate for gestational age (AGA) infants. Earlier catch-up growth is observed in extremely preterm SGA infants.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal development
- Pediatric growth studies
- Preterm infant care
Context:
- Preterm infants often experience growth deviations.
- Understanding growth trajectories for small for gestational age (SGA) versus appropriate for gestational age (AGA) preterm infants is crucial.
- Early identification of growth differences informs timely interventions.
Purpose:
- To compare the growth and development status of SGA and AGA preterm infants from corrected ages 0-24 months.
- To identify differences in growth patterns between SGA and AGA preterm infants.
- To provide evidence for early health interventions in preterm populations.
Summary:
- A retrospective study analyzed 824 preterm infants (144 SGA, 680 AGA).
- SGA infants exhibited significantly lower weight and length than AGA infants up to 18 months corrected age.
- By 24 months corrected age, SGA infants showed a higher catch-up growth proportion (85%) compared to AGA infants (79%), with earlier catch-up noted in those born <34 weeks gestation.
Impact:
- SGA preterm infants experience initial growth delays but demonstrate robust catch-up growth potential by 24 months corrected age.
- Gestational age significantly influences the timing and trajectory of catch-up growth in SGA preterm infants.
- Findings support tailored monitoring and early interventions for preterm infants to optimize growth outcomes.
Objectives:
To understand the growth and development status and differences between small for gestational age (SGA) and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) preterm infants during corrected ages 0-24 months, and to provide a basis for early health interventions for preterm infants.
Methods:
A retrospective study was conducted, selecting 824 preterm infants who received regular health care at the Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center from July 2019 to July 2022, including 144 SGA and 680 AGA infants. The growth data of SGA and AGA groups at birth and corrected ages 0-24 months were analyzed and compared.
Results:
The SGA group had significantly lower weight and length than the AGA group at corrected ages 0-18 months (P<0.05), while there were no significant differences between the two groups at corrected age 24 months (P>0.05). At corrected age 24 months, 85% (34/40) of SGA and 79% (74/94) of AGA preterm infants achieved catch-up growth. Stratified analysis by gestational age showed that there were significant differences in weight and length at corrected ages 0-9 months between the SGA subgroup with gestational age <34 weeks and the AGA subgroups with gestational age <34 weeks and 34 weeks (P<0.05). In addition, the weight and length of the SGA subgroup with gestational age 34 weeks showed significant differences compared to the AGA subgroups with gestational age <34 weeks and 34 weeks at corrected ages 0-18 months and corrected ages 0-12 months, respectively (P<0.05). Catch-up growth for SGA infants with gestational age <34 weeks and 34 weeks mainly occurred at corrected ages 0-12 months and corrected ages 0-18 months, respectively.
Conclusions:
SGA infants exhibit delayed early-life physical growth compared to AGA infants, but can achieve a higher proportion of catch-up growth by corrected age 24 months than AGA infants. Catch-up growth can be achieved earlier in SGA infants with a gestational age of <34 weeks compared to those with 34 weeks.
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