BACKGROUND: Many small for gestational age (SGA) infants have catch-up growth during the first 2 years of life, but approximately 10% have no catch-up growth, and short stature continues into adulthood. Identification of risk factors for absence of catch-up growth at an early age may be useful for earlier diagnosis and earlier treatment. METHODS: This was a retrospective multicenter study. The subjects were SGA infants with very low-birthweight (VLBW), who were followed up until the age of 3 years. The risk factors for absence of catch-up growth were identified on statistical analysis. RESULTS: Of the 217 SGA infants in this study, 181 were in the catch-up group and 36 were in the no catch-up group. The catch-up rate was 83%. On multivariate analysis adjusted for gestational age, birthweight, birth height, and birth head circumference, multipara, Z and ΔZ scores of length at 12 months of corrected age, and the Z score of height at 24 months of corrected age were risk factors for lack of catch-up at 3 years. CONCLUSIONS: The length Z and ΔZ scores at 12 months of corrected age may be useful for an earlier diagnosis and earlier initiation of growth hormone treatment in VLBW infants.
BACKGROUND: Many small for gestational age (SGA) infants have catch-up growth during the first 2 years of life, but approximately 10% have no catch-up growth, and short stature continues into adulthood. Identification of risk factors for absence of catch-up growth at an early age may be useful for earlier diagnosis and earlier treatment. METHODS: This was a retrospective multicenter study. The subjects were SGA infants with very low-birthweight (VLBW), who were followed up until the age of 3 years. The risk factors for absence of catch-up growth were identified on statistical analysis. RESULTS: Of the 217 SGA infants in this study, 181 were in the catch-up group and 36 were in the no catch-up group. The catch-up rate was 83%. On multivariate analysis adjusted for gestational age, birthweight, birth height, and birth head circumference, multipara, Z and ΔZ scores of length at 12 months of corrected age, and the Z score of height at 24 months of corrected age were risk factors for lack of catch-up at 3 years. CONCLUSIONS: The length Z and ΔZ scores at 12 months of corrected age may be useful for an earlier diagnosis and earlier initiation of growth hormone treatment in VLBW infants.
Authors: So Jin Yoon; Joohee Lim; Jung Ho Han; Jeong Eun Shin; Soon Min Lee; Ho Seon Eun; Min Soo Park; Kook In Park Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-01-29 Impact factor: 3.390