Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 20, 2025

A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting
14:43

A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting

Published on: January 12, 2018

11.8K

Race as social determinant of growth and body composition among infants born very preterm

Ariel A Salas1, Katherine Chetta2, Laura Lach2

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA. asalas@uab.edu.

Pediatric Research
|July 21, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Black preterm infants showed increased weight gain velocity compared to white infants. However, race was not associated with differences in body composition at discharge, highlighting the need to address racial disparities in neonatal care.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatalogy
  • Perinatal Health
  • Racial Disparities in Healthcare

Background:

  • Racism contributes to significant health outcome disparities.
  • Preterm infants, especially those of Black race, face unique challenges in growth and development.
  • Understanding racial differences in neonatal outcomes is crucial for equitable care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if Black race is independently linked to differences in fat accretion at hospital discharge among very preterm infants.
  • To analyze racial associations with weight gain and body composition in a large cohort of preterm neonates.
  • To identify potential factors contributing to health disparities in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).

Main Methods:

  • A multicenter cohort study involving 888 very preterm infants (gestational age ≤32 weeks).
  • Collection of de-identified demographic, anthropometric, and body composition data from seven US neonatal units.
  • Calculation of weight, length, and head circumference z-scores at birth and discharge; adjustment for covariates like birthweight and gestational age.

Main Results:

  • Black preterm infants had a lower birthweight compared to white infants (p < 0.0001).
  • After adjusting for covariates, Black infants exhibited a higher weight gain velocity (0.5 g/kg/day, p = 0.03).
  • No significant differences in body fat percentage z-scores were observed at discharge between racial groups (p = 0.14).

Conclusions:

  • Black race was independently associated with increased weight gain velocity in very preterm infants.
  • Observed racial differences in birth weight and weight gain were not linked to dissimilarities in body composition outcomes at discharge.
  • Further understanding of nutrition and growth across racial groups is essential to mitigate NICU-related racial disparities.
Abstract

More Related Videos

A Rat Model of Mild Intrauterine Hypoperfusion with Microcoil Stenosis06:19

A Rat Model of Mild Intrauterine Hypoperfusion with Microcoil Stenosis

Published on: January 7, 2018

10.3K
Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

85.9K

Related Concept Videos

Regression Toward the Mean01:52

Regression Toward the Mean

Regression toward the mean (“RTM”) is a phenomenon in which extremely high or low values—for example, and individual’s blood pressure at a particular moment—appear closer to a group’s average upon remeasuring. Although this statistical peculiarity is the result of random error and chance, it has been problematic across various medical, scientific, financial and psychological applications. In particular, RTM, if not taken into account, can interfere when...
6.3K
Nature and Nurture01:10

Nature and Nurture

Many human characteristics, like height, are shaped by both nature—in other words, by our genes—and by nurture, or our environment. For example, chronic stress during childhood inhibits the production of growth hormones and consequently reduces bone growth and height. Scientists estimate that 70-90% of variation in height is due to genetic differences among individuals, and 10-30% of variation in height is due to differences in the environments that individuals experience,...
20.4K
Anatomy of the Intestines01:23

Anatomy of the Intestines

Although digestion of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids may begin in the stomach, it is completed in the intestine. The absorption of nutrients, water, and electrolytes from food and drink also occurs in the intestine. The intestines can be divided into two structurally distinct organs—the small and large intestines.
Small Intestines
The small intestine is an ~7 meter-long tube with an inner diameter of just 2.5 cm. Since most nutrients are absorbed here, the inner lining of the...
71.7K
Signs of Puberty01:27

Signs of Puberty

Puberty is a critical phase, typically beginning between the ages of 8 and 13 in girls and 9 and 14 in boys, though timing can vary based on genetics, environmental factors, and overall health. This period is characterized by the development of secondary sexual characteristics and the attainment of reproductive potential. Endocrine changes underpin puberty, with hormonal surges of Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) instigated by Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH)...
305
Teratogenicity01:07

Teratogenicity

The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
2.4K
Socioemotional Development during Infancy01:30

Socioemotional Development during Infancy

Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
Primary Temperament Types
53