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[Fetal growth in premature infants in Haute-Normandie]
1Service de médecine néonatale, clinique de pédiatrie et de puériculture, Rouen, France.
Insights
Fetal growth standards for preterm infants vary significantly between studies, particularly for extremely preterm babies. This study established new intrauterine growth curves for premature newborns, highlighting discrepancies with existing literature.
Area of Science:
- Neonatalogy
- Perinatology
- Pediatric Growth Standards
Context:
- Established intrauterine growth curves for premature newborns (28-36 weeks gestational age) in Haute-Normandie, France.
- Utilized a large dataset (over 8,000 infants) from 1976-1990 for birth weight, stature, and head circumference.
- Addressed the variability in existing fetal growth standards for preterm infants, especially those born extremely preterm.
Purpose:
- To develop region-specific fetal growth standards for preterm infants.
- To compare established growth parameters with existing literature, identifying discrepancies.
- To provide a basis for discussing normal thresholds and patterns of fetal growth inadequacy.
Summary:
- Cross-sectional study analyzed birth weight, stature, and head circumference of 8,042 premature newborns (28-36 weeks GA).
- New growth curves were established, revealing differences compared to existing literature values.
- Observed variations in mean/median values for weight, stature, and head circumference highlight the need for updated standards.
Impact:
- Contributes to more accurate assessment of fetal growth in preterm infants.
- Informs clinical practice regarding the identification of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) in preterm populations.
- Provides a foundation for further research into the specific needs and outcomes of extremely preterm infants.
Background:
Fetal growth standards of preterm infants are different from one study to another, especially for extremely preterm babies.
Population And Methods:
Between 1976 and 1990, a cross-sectional study of the resulting intrauterine growth of premature newborns from Haute-Normandie (France) was conducted by collecting data of the compulsory health certificate set up in the first week after birth. In spite of exclusions, curves for obstetrical terms ranging from 28 to 36 weeks of gestational age were settled. Equivalents of 8,042 birth weights, 7,792 statures, 8,041 head circumferences and 6,737 ponderal index were used.
Results:
Comparing our results with those published in the literature, we observed short differences for mean or middle values: from less than 170 to more than 180 g for weight, from less than 1 to more than 2.6 cm for stature and from less than 1 to more than 1.9 cm for head circumference.
Conclusion:
The selected normal lower threshold for each parameter and the varieties of fetal growth inadequacy are under discussion.