Third-day weight changes and bronchopulmonary dysplasia risk in preterm infants: a cohort study

Area of Science:

• Neonatalogy
• Pediatric Pulmonology
• Perinatal Medicine

Background:

• Early postnatal fluid balance and weight changes are crucial for neonatal adaptation.
• Complications in preterm infants, including bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), are linked to early weight changes.
• The precise relationship between early weight changes and BPD risk in preterm infants requires further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between weight change by the third day of life and the risk of developing BPD in preterm infants.
• To determine if early postnatal weight changes can serve as a predictor for BPD in vulnerable neonates.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study including preterm infants (<32 weeks gestation or <1,500g birth weight).
• Logistic regression analysis was employed to assess the association between percentage weight change from birth weight by day 3 and BPD.
• Data from 453 preterm infants were analyzed.

Main Results:

• A BPD incidence of 34.2% was observed in the study cohort.
• Each 1% increase in weight change by day 3 was associated with a 10% increase in BPD risk (OR=1.10, 95% CI: 1.03-1.18).
• Infants without weight loss by day 3 exhibited a 2.52-fold higher risk of BPD (OR=2.52, 95% CI: 1.34-4.80).

Conclusions:

• Weight loss by day 3 in preterm infants is associated with a reduced risk of developing BPD.
• Early postnatal weight change by day 3 serves as a simple, noninvasive predictor for BPD risk.
• Optimizing early fluid management strategies to achieve appropriate weight changes may potentially decrease BPD incidence in preterm infants.