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Birth-weight percentiles by gestational age, Connecticut 1988-1993
C Roberts1, L Mueller, J Hadler
1Division of Field Epidemiology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Ga, USA.
Insights
This study created birth-weight percentile charts for infants in Connecticut. These charts aid in identifying extreme birth weights, crucial for infant health and public health research.
Area of Science:
- Perinatal epidemiology
- Public health
- Neonatal research
Background:
- Extreme birth weights are linked to higher infant mortality and morbidity.
- Accurate identification of infants with extreme birth weights is vital for clinical care and public health initiatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop birth-weight percentile charts stratified by gestational age.
- To provide population-specific norms for male, female, Black, and White infants in Connecticut.
Main Methods:
- Utilized live birth registration data from Connecticut residents (1988-1993).
- Included 263,032 births, excluding records with missing gestational age or extreme outliers.
- Analyzed birth weight percentiles by gestational age for different demographic groups.
Main Results:
- Generated population-based birth-weight percentile charts for Connecticut infants.
- Charts are specific to gestational age, sex, and race (Black/White).
- Data analysis accounted for missing gestational age, noting minimal impact on overall findings.
Conclusions:
- The developed charts serve as essential population norms for Connecticut clinicians and researchers.
- These charts facilitate accurate assessment and identification of infants with extreme birth weights.
- Provides a valuable tool for improving perinatal health outcomes and research in Connecticut.
Abstract:
Extreme birth weights are associated with increased infant mortality and morbidity. Identifying infants of extreme birth weight is important for both clinical assessment and public health research. This study aimed to produce charts of birth-weight percentiles by gestational age for male and female, black and white infants in Connecticut. Data were obtained from registrations of live births to Connecticut residents in Connecticut, 1988-1993. During this period 263,032 births were registered to black and white women. Birth weight was missing in only 90 records but gestational age was missing in 29,865 (11%) records. An additional 0.5% of births were excluded because the recorded birth weight was an extreme outlier for the recorded gestational age. Birth records with missing gestational age had lower mean birth weights and proportionately more births < or = 1500 g when compared to birth records where gestation was reported; however the magnitude of the differences was small. Our charts provide population-based birth-weight percentiles by gestational age based on the most recent Connecticut birth data available. They are the most appropriate population norms available for Connecticut clinicians and researchers.