F García-Muñoz Rodrigo1, A García-Alix Pérez2, J Figueras Aloy3, P Saavedra Santana4. 1. Servicio de Neonatología, Hospital Universitario Materno-Infantil, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, España. Electronic address: fgarciamu@gmail.com. 2. Servicio de Neonatología, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, España. 3. Servicio de Neonatología, Hospital Clínic i Provincial, Barcelona, España. 4. Departamento de Matemáticas, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, España.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Most anthropometric reference data for extremely preterm infants used in Spain are outdated and based on non-Spanish populations, or are derived from small hospital-based samples that failed to include neonates of borderline viability. OBJECTIVES: To develop gender-specific, population-based curves for birth weight, length, and head circumference in extremely preterm Caucasian infants, using a large contemporary sample size of Spanish singletons. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Anthropometric data from neonates ≤ 28 weeks of gestational age were collected between January 2002 and December 2010 using the Spanish database SEN1500. Gestational age was estimated according to obstetric data (early pregnancy ultrasound). The data were analyzed with the SPSS.20 package, and centile tables were created for males and females using the Cole and Green LMS method. RESULTS: This study presents the first population-based growth curves for extremely preterm infants, including those of borderline viability, in Spain. A sexual dimorphism is evident for all of the studied parameters, starting at early gestation. CONCLUSIONS: These new gender-specific and population-based data could be useful for the improvement of growth assessments of extremely preterm infants in our country, for the development of epidemiological studies, for the evaluation of temporal trends, and for clinical or public health interventions seeking to optimize fetal growth.
INTRODUCTION: Most anthropometric reference data for extremely preterm infants used in Spain are outdated and based on non-Spanish populations, or are derived from small hospital-based samples that failed to include neonates of borderline viability. OBJECTIVES: To develop gender-specific, population-based curves for birth weight, length, and head circumference in extremely preterm Caucasian infants, using a large contemporary sample size of Spanish singletons. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Anthropometric data from neonates ≤ 28 weeks of gestational age were collected between January 2002 and December 2010 using the Spanish database SEN1500. Gestational age was estimated according to obstetric data (early pregnancy ultrasound). The data were analyzed with the SPSS.20 package, and centile tables were created for males and females using the Cole and Green LMS method. RESULTS: This study presents the first population-based growth curves for extremely preterm infants, including those of borderline viability, in Spain. A sexual dimorphism is evident for all of the studied parameters, starting at early gestation. CONCLUSIONS: These new gender-specific and population-based data could be useful for the improvement of growth assessments of extremely preterm infants in our country, for the development of epidemiological studies, for the evaluation of temporal trends, and for clinical or public health interventions seeking to optimize fetal growth.
Keywords:
Appropriate for gestational age; Apropiado para la edad gestacional; Birth weight; Curvas de crecimiento; Grande para la edad gestacional; Growth curves; Head circumference; Large for gestational age; Longitud; Longitude; Pequeño para la edad gestacional; Perímetro craneal; Peso; Prematuridad extrema; Recién nacido de muy bajo peso; Small for gestational age; Very low birth weight