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Test Weight Validation In Preterm Infants
Meredith Kinoshita1,2, Martin J White1,2, Anne Doolan1,3
1The Coombe Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
Summary
Accurate feed intake measurement is crucial for preterm infants. Standardized bedside test weights are reproducible and reliable for assessing intake during oral feeding transitions.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Clinical Measurement
Background:
- Accurate assessment of feed intake is vital for preterm infants at risk of growth failure.
- Existing clinical observation tools lack validation in this population.
- Test weight measurement may be inaccurate for small feed volumes in preterm infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the agreement between standardized test weights and known feed weights in preterm infants.
- To evaluate the reproducibility of test weight measurements during oral feeding transitions.
- To determine the minimal detectable change for feed intake assessment in this population.
Main Methods:
- A standardized protocol for repeated pre- and post-feed weights was used in preterm infants (<35 weeks gestational age).
- Reproducibility was assessed via two repeated measurements per participant.
- Agreement between test weights and known feed weights was analyzed, and minimal detectable change was calculated.
Main Results:
- Thirty-eight preterm infants were studied, with test weights performed at corrected gestational age 35+3 weeks.
- High reproducibility was found for paired pre-feed weights (ICC=0.99) and post-feed weights (ICC=0.99).
- The mean absolute difference between test weight and feed weight was 1.7 g, with a minimal detectable change of 0.96 g.
Conclusions:
- A standardized bedside protocol for repeated pre- and post-feed weights demonstrates high reproducibility in preterm infants.
- Test weight measurements are appropriate for use in preterm populations during the establishment of oral feeds.
- This method provides accurate and reliable assessment of feed intake, crucial for monitoring growth.
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