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Children born small for gestational age: do they catch up?
A C Hokken-Koelega1, M A De Ridder, R J Lemmen
1Department of Pediatrics, Sophia Children's Hospital/Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Pediatric Research
|August 1, 1995
Summary
Most healthy small for gestational age (SGA) infants achieve catch-up growth by age two. Birth length SDS predicts catch-up in premature SGA infants, while birth weight SDS is better for full-term SGA infants.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neonatology
- Growth and Development
Background:
- Small for gestational age (SGA) infants are born with birth length below the third percentile (P3) for their gestational age.
- Postnatal growth and factors influencing catch-up growth in healthy SGA infants are crucial for long-term outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the postnatal growth of SGA infants over the first two years of life.
- To identify predictive factors for achieving catch-up growth (height >= P3) in SGA infants.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 724 healthy SGA infants (423 premature, 301 full-term) was studied over eight years.
- Infants with known causes of growth retardation were excluded.
- Catch-up growth to height >= P3 by two years of age was assessed.
Main Results:
- Approximately 85% of healthy SGA infants achieved catch-up growth (height >= P3) by two years.
- Catch-up growth rates were similar between premature (82.5%) and full-term (87.5%) SGA infants.
- Birth length SDS was a better predictor for catch-up in premature SGA infants, whereas birth weight SDS was superior for full-term SGA infants.
Conclusions:
- The majority of healthy SGA infants experience significant catch-up growth within the first two years.
- Predictive factors for catch-up growth differ between premature and full-term SGA infants, highlighting the importance of individualized assessment.