[A follow-up study on the physical and motor development of premature infants with small for gestational age within 2...

To investigate the physical and motor development of preterm small for gestational age infant (SGA) within 2 years after birth.

SGA born in Peking University Third Hospital from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2022 and followed up regularly in the Center for Child Health and Deve-lopment were selected as study subjects. They were divided into preterm SGA group and full-term SGA group. Length, weight, head circumference, Peabody motor development score, vitamin A and D, bone mineral density and feeding status of SGA 0-3, 3-6, 6-10, 10-16, 16-21, 21-27 months after birth were collected through the electronic child health care follow-up system. The preterm infants were calculated according to the corrected gestational age. SPSS 25.0 statistical software was used to analyze the data.

A total of 158 SGA completed the regular follow-up, including 87 preterm SGA and 71 full-term SGA. The birth length, weight and head circumference of the two groups were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). The body weight of preterm SGA caught up faster 0-3 months after birth, and the head circumference of preterm SGA was higher than that of full-term SGA 0-3 months [(38.18±2.14) cm vs. (37.12±1.66) cm] and 6-10 months [(43.04±1.54) cm vs. (42.35±1.70) cm] after birth. The differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). The scores of gross motor, fine motor and total motor development 3-6 and 6-10 months after birth were significantly higher in preterm SGA than in full-term SGA (all P < 0.05). Breastfeeding 0-3 months of age and 3-6 months of age was significantly associated with catch-up growth in preterm SGA (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in vitamins A and D and bone mineral density between the two groups.

In the first year after birth, the weight and head circumference of preterm SGA increase faster than those of full-term SGA, and the motor development of preterm SGA is better than that of full-term SGA. After the first year of life, the physical indicators and motor development of the two groups tend to be consistent. Breastfeeding is the preferred feeding mode for preterm SGA, which promotes rapid catch-up growth in the early stage. The absence of maternal diabetes during pregnancy is also one of the positive factors for the occurrence of catch-up growth in SGA.