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[Changes in weight, length and head circumference in premature newborn babies weighing less than 1,500 grams at
G Bustos Lozano1, C Medina López, C R Pallás Alonso
1Servicio de Neonatología (Dr. Beláustegui), Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid.
Insights
Premature infants under 1,500 grams showed significant growth challenges, with weight being the most affected parameter. While some low-birth-weight infants demonstrated catch-up growth, those weighing less than 750 grams at birth had the poorest outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care and developmental pediatrics.
- Pediatric growth and development studies.
Background:
- Premature infants, especially those weighing less than 1,500 grams, require specialized follow-up programs.
- Understanding growth trajectories is crucial for early intervention in high-risk neonates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the development of weight, length, and head circumference in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.
- To identify growth patterns and potential catch-up growth in this vulnerable population.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 259 VLBW infants (born May 1990-Sept 1995) in a neonatal unit follow-up program.
- Weight and length measured from 3 months to 4 years corrected age; head circumference measured to 2 years corrected age.
Main Results:
- 27% of infants were underweight for gestational age (LWGA).
- LWGA infants showed 70% below the 3rd percentile at 3 months corrected age, with a trend towards catch-up by 2 years.
- Head circumference was better preserved than weight and length, especially in LWGA infants.
Conclusions:
- Weight demonstrated the poorest growth trajectory, particularly for infants born weighing less than 750 grams.
- LWGA infants showed a tendency for catch-up growth by 2 years of age, indicating potential for improved outcomes with monitoring.
Objective:
The objective of this study was to analyze the weight, length and head circumference development in prematurely born babies who weighed less than 1,500 grams and who were included in the follow-up program of our neonatal unit.
Patients And Methods:
Review of data of the cohort included in the follow-up program between May 1990 and September 1995 was carried out. The weight and length were measured from 3 months of corrected age to 4 years of age. The head circumference was measured until 2 years of age.
Results:
We recruited 259 premature newborns (136 boys and 123 girls). The median gestational age was 30 weeks (23 to 36) and the median weight was 1,150 g (500 to 1,499 g). Twenty-seven percent were underweight for their gestational age (LWGA). The proportion of cases with weight below the 3rd percentile in the follow-up was stable around 25% in the group of adequate weight for gestational age. (AWGA). At 3 months of corrected age this proportion was 70% in the LWGA group, but there was a trend towards catch-up at 2 years of age. The worst results were obtained in the group that weighed less than 750 g at birth. The head circumference was better preserved than longitudinal growth and thus better than weight. All cases of head circumference below the 3rd percentile in the follow-up occurs in the LWGA group.
Conclusions:
Weight was the parameter with the worst evolution during follow-up, especially in the group that weighed less than 750 g at birth. The group of LWGA tended to catch-up at 2 years of age.