Anthropometric measurements of infants in a risk-based patent ductus arteriosus treatment program

Area of Science:

• Neonatalogy
• Pediatric Cardiology
• Developmental Pediatrics

Background:

• Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is common in preterm infants and can impact growth.
• Different PDA outcomes (spontaneous closure, medical treatment success/failure) exist.
• Growth patterns in relation to PDA management strategies require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare growth patterns in preterm infants based on PDA outcomes.
• To analyze growth differences between infants with spontaneous PDA closure, successful medical closure, and those not requiring treatment.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective observational cohort study in a level III NICU.
• Inclusion of preterm infants born <29 weeks gestation.
• Comparison of anthropometric measurements (weight, OFC) at birth, day 14, and 36 weeks corrected gestational age (CGA) across three groups: low-risk (untreated), high-risk treatment-failure, and high-risk treatment-success.

Main Results:

• No significant weight differences were observed at 36 weeks CGA among the groups.
• High-risk infants with treatment failure showed a sustained decline in occipitofrontal circumference (OFC) z-scores.
• High-risk infants with successful PDA closure and low-risk infants maintained stable or improved OFC trajectories.
• Gestational age at birth predicted OFC centile change, and successful PDA closure positively impacted OFC z-score trajectories.

Conclusions:

• PDA closure, particularly successful medical management, may be associated with improved head circumference growth in high-risk preterm infants.
• OFC z-score changes indicate potential neurodevelopmental implications related to PDA management.
• Further research is warranted to confirm the association between PDA closure and long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes.