Postnatal growth in VLBW infants: significant association with neurodevelopmental outcome.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVE:
To study the significance of growth status at birth and postnatal growth on neurodevelopmental outcome in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.

STUDY DESIGN:
Growth and neurodevelopment were examined in 219 VLBW (<1250 g) children, 94 small for gestational age (SGA) (<10th percentile) and 125 appropriate for gestational age (AGA) (>10th percentile). Outcome at age 2 was assessed with the Bayley Scales of Infant Development (Mental Developmental Index [MDI], Psychomotor Developmental Index [PDI]) and a standardized neurologic examination.

RESULTS:
SGA status was not associated with poor neurodevelopmental outcome. However, after adjustment for covariables including cerebral palsy (CP), SGA children with weight <10th percentile at age 2 had lower mean PDI than SGA children with catch-up growth to weight >10th percentile (mean [SD], 89.9 [17.4] versus 101.8 [14.5]; P<.001). AGA children with catch-down growth (weight <10th percentile at age 2) were, independent of CP, more likely to have lower mean MDI (94.9 vs 101.7, P=.05) and PDI (81.9 vs 95.1; P<.001) than AGA children remaining >10th percentile at age 2. They also more frequently had severe CP (22.9% vs 1.2%; P=.008).

CONCLUSIONS:
In VLBW children, the course of postnatal growth rather than the appropriateness of weight for gestational age at birth determines later neurodevelopmental outcome.

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Author information

Author/s: Latal-Hajnal, Beatrice (B); von Siebenthal, Kurt (K); Kovari, Helen (H); Bucher, Hans U (HU); Largo, Remo H (RH);

Affiliation: Growth and Development Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Steinwiesstrasse 75, CH-8032 Zurich, Switzerland. Bea.Latal(-atsign-)kispi.unizh.ch

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: The Journal of pediatrics (J Pediatr), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2003-Aug; vol 143 (issue 2) : pp 163-70

Dates: Created 2003/09/12; Completed 2003/10/07; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 12970627, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

Comments and Corrections

CommentIn: J Pediatr. 2003 Aug;143(2):145-6. (PMID: 12970623)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Body Weight
Child Development - physiology
Child, Preschool
Female
Gestational Age
Humans
Infant

Infant
Infant, Newborn - growth & development
Infant, Premature - growth & development
Infant, Small for Gestational Age - growth & development
Infant, Very Low Birth Weight - growth & development
Male
Psychomotor Performance - physiology

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