TY - JOUR
T1 - Growth of Preterm and Full-Term Children Aged 0-4 Years
T2 - Integrating Median Growth and Variability in Growth Charts
AU - Bocca-Tjeertes, Inger F. A.
AU - van Buuren, Stef
AU - Bos, Arend F.
AU - Kerstjens, Jorien M.
AU - ten Vergert, Elisabeth M.
AU - Reijneveld, Sijmen A.
PY - 2012/9
Y1 - 2012/9
N2 - Objectives To assess the distribution of height, weight, and head circumference (HC) in preterm infants for ages 0-4 years, by gestational age (GA) and sex, and to construct growth reference charts for preterm-born children, again by GA and sex, for monitoring growth in clinical practice.Study design The community-based cohort study covered a quarter of The Netherlands. 1690 preterm infants (GA, 25-35(+6) weeks) and a random sample of 634 full-term control infants (GA 38-41(+6)), who were followed from birth to 4 years of age. Height, weight, and HC were regularly assessed during routine well-child visits and data were retrospectively collected.Results At all ages, the median height and weight of preterm children were lower compared with full-term children. Growth depended on the child's GA. Increase in HC showed an early catch-up and was similar to full-term children by the age of 1. Height, weight, and HC were more variable in boys, particularly in the very preterm children.Conclusions At 0 to 4 years, the growth of preterm children differed from that of full-term children and depended on their GA. The greater variability of growth in boys suggests that they are more vulnerable to the complications of preterm birth that influence growth. These growth charts are the most precise tools currently available for monitoring growth in preterm children. (J Pediatr 2012;161:460-5).
AB - Objectives To assess the distribution of height, weight, and head circumference (HC) in preterm infants for ages 0-4 years, by gestational age (GA) and sex, and to construct growth reference charts for preterm-born children, again by GA and sex, for monitoring growth in clinical practice.Study design The community-based cohort study covered a quarter of The Netherlands. 1690 preterm infants (GA, 25-35(+6) weeks) and a random sample of 634 full-term control infants (GA 38-41(+6)), who were followed from birth to 4 years of age. Height, weight, and HC were regularly assessed during routine well-child visits and data were retrospectively collected.Results At all ages, the median height and weight of preterm children were lower compared with full-term children. Growth depended on the child's GA. Increase in HC showed an early catch-up and was similar to full-term children by the age of 1. Height, weight, and HC were more variable in boys, particularly in the very preterm children.Conclusions At 0 to 4 years, the growth of preterm children differed from that of full-term children and depended on their GA. The greater variability of growth in boys suggests that they are more vulnerable to the complications of preterm birth that influence growth. These growth charts are the most precise tools currently available for monitoring growth in preterm children. (J Pediatr 2012;161:460-5).
KW - BIRTH-WEIGHT INFANTS
KW - POSTNATAL-GROWTH
KW - HEAD CIRCUMFERENCE
KW - FOR-LENGTH
KW - CURVES
KW - DISEASE
KW - HEIGHT
KW - LIFE
U2 - 10.1016/j.jpeds.2012.03.016
DO - 10.1016/j.jpeds.2012.03.016
M3 - Article
SN - 1097-6833
VL - 161
SP - 460
JO - Journal of Pediatrics
JF - Journal of Pediatrics
IS - 3
ER -