Lili Huang1, Sufei Yang1, Fan Yang1, Fei Xiong1. 1. Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Abstract
AIM: To evaluate the growth trend of children from birth to 2 years old born full-term small-for-gestational-age (SGA) in Chengdu, China. METHODS: Full-term SGA infants were prospectively followed from birth to 2 years of age. The weight, length and head circumference were monitored at 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months. Catch-up growth and growth velocity were measured by using standardised z-score and Δz-score. Growth deviation was analysed. RESULTS: A total of 850 full-term SGA infants were involved in our study. There were no significant differences in weight or length at birth between male and female infants. Full catch-up growth was seen in 95.85% of SGA infants within 2 years of life, with no gender differences. The z-score and Δz-score for weight at 3 months were less than those at other ages (P < 0.05). The z-score and Δz-score for length at 3 and 6 months were less than those at other ages (P < 0.05). Smaller z-score for head circumference was seen at 3 and 6 months (P < 0.05). The z-score for body mass index at 6 months was the largest over the period of follow-up. The total prevalence of being overweight or obese fluctuated around 10% at different follow-up stages. Males had a faster growth velocity for length at 12 months compared to females (P < 0.05). The proportion of those who were underweight, of short stature or had a head circumference z-score < -2 significantly decreased between 3 and 6 months. At 24 months, there was an increase in z-score of 0.67 standard deviation for both weight and length in most full-term SGA infants, and the proportion of underweight and short stature was 2.97 and 2.67%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Most full-term SGA infants undergo catch-up growth during the first year of life. Regardless of gender, the catch-up velocity for weight exceeded that for length at each visit. Additional follow-up studies are needed to determine long-term growth outcomes for full-term SGAs.
AIM: To evaluate the growth trend of children from birth to 2 years old born full-term small-for-gestational-age (SGA) in Chengdu, China. METHODS: Full-term SGA infants were prospectively followed from birth to 2 years of age. The weight, length and head circumference were monitored at 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months. Catch-up growth and growth velocity were measured by using standardised z-score and Δz-score. Growth deviation was analysed. RESULTS: A total of 850 full-term SGA infants were involved in our study. There were no significant differences in weight or length at birth between male and female infants. Full catch-up growth was seen in 95.85% of SGA infants within 2 years of life, with no gender differences. The z-score and Δz-score for weight at 3 months were less than those at other ages (P < 0.05). The z-score and Δz-score for length at 3 and 6 months were less than those at other ages (P < 0.05). Smaller z-score for head circumference was seen at 3 and 6 months (P < 0.05). The z-score for body mass index at 6 months was the largest over the period of follow-up. The total prevalence of being overweight or obese fluctuated around 10% at different follow-up stages. Males had a faster growth velocity for length at 12 months compared to females (P < 0.05). The proportion of those who were underweight, of short stature or had a head circumference z-score < -2 significantly decreased between 3 and 6 months. At 24 months, there was an increase in z-score of 0.67 standard deviation for both weight and length in most full-term SGA infants, and the proportion of underweight and short stature was 2.97 and 2.67%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Most full-term SGA infants undergo catch-up growth during the first year of life. Regardless of gender, the catch-up velocity for weight exceeded that for length at each visit. Additional follow-up studies are needed to determine long-term growth outcomes for full-term SGAs.