Abstract
Children born with very low birth weight (VLBW) are at risk of impaired growth. We aimed to study VLBW survivors (90.8%) born in 1998/1999 in the state of Baden-Württemberg (n = 2103) for whom growth data were available up to age six. Classification as appropriate for gestational age (AGA) or small for gestational age (SGA) depended on size at birth. Models to predict height SDS at 5 y were developed using data for 1 yr (Model 1) and 2 yrs (Model 2). The data of 1320 (63%) children were available: SGA: n = 730, AGA: n = 590. At 6 yrs, 8.3% AGA and 13.4% SGA children were short (<−2.0 SDS). The following factors explained Ht SDS at 5 (and 6) yrs (order of importance): (a) Model 1 (n = 1033; R2 = 0.52; error: 0.84 SDS): 1st yr Ht SDS, mid-parental height (MPH) SDS, 1st yr weight SDS, birth weight SDS; (b) Model 2 (n = 991; R2 = 0.72; error: 0.65 SDS): 1st yr Ht SDS; change (2nd yr) in Ht and weight SDS; MPH SDS; 1st yr weight SDS; birth weight SDS. Thus, some AGA and SGA children born VLBW remain short and preventive strategies need to be developed for those at risk.
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Abbreviations
- AGA:
-
appropriate for gestational age
- MPH:
-
mid-parental height
- SGA:
-
small for gestational age
- VLBW:
-
very low birth weight
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Acknowledgements
This study is the result of a statewide survey conducted by the Paediatric Endocrinology Section of the University Children's Hospital Tuebingen, Germany. Other participating physicians and centres were: A. Artlich, B. Keyser, Oberschwabenklinik Ravensburg; M. Brandis, K.O. Schwab, Universitätsklinikum Freiburg; K.M. Debatin, H.D. Hummler, Universitätsklinikum Ulm; W. Ertelt, A. Schneider, Klinikum Heidenheim; J.U. Folkens, J. Hautz, Klinikum Offenburg; J. Forster, R. Sauter, St. Josefs Krankenhaus Freiburg; J. Freihorst, G. Saur, Ostalb-Klinikum Aalen; R. Huenges, Klinikum Villingen-Schwenningen; W. Kachel, A. Ruland, SLK-Kliniken Heilbronn; J. Kuehr, Städtisches Klinikum Karlsruhe; O. Linderkamp, H.-J. Gausepohl, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg; W. Nützenadel, S. Gonzalves, Universitätsklinikum Mannheim; C.J. Partsch, Städtische Kliniken Esslingen a.N.; C. Poets, Universitätsklinikum Tübingen; U. Radlow, K. Placzek, Städtisches Krankenhaus Friedrichshafen; K. Rager, H. Knüppel, Caritas-Krankenhaus Bad Mergentheim; U. Rappen, A. Keller, Stadtklinik Baden-Baden; H.L. Reiter, W. Koch, Klinikum Pforzheim; G. Schädel, C. Bultmann, Margaritenhospital Schwäbisch Gmünd, H.U. Schwenk, H. Schmidt, Klinikum Konstanz and Hegau Klinikum Singen; M. Stahl, M. Luther, Kreiskrankenhaus Lörrach; G. Strotbek, A. Weimann, Kreiskrankenhaus Waiblingen; M. Teufel, G. Froese, Kreiskrankenhaus Böblingen; F. Trefz, H. Schneider, Klinikum am Steinenberg Reutlingen; M. Vochem, E. Kuhls, Olgahospital Klinikum Stuttgart; M. Walka, Klinikum Ludwigsburg; D. Wölfel, D. Richter, Klinik am Eichert Göppingen.
We are grateful to Dipl. Biol. C. Engel for her valuable advice and for conducting the statistical analysis. We would also like to thank P.M. Weber for preparing the graphics and P. Herrmann for her editorial assistance. This work was supported by a grant from Novo Nordisk, Germany.
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This work was supported by a grant from Novo Nordisk, Germany.
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Trebar, B., Traunecker, R., Selbmann, HK. et al. Growth During the First Two Years Predicts Pre-School Height in Children Born With Very Low Birth Weight (VLBW): Results of a Study of 1,320 Children in Germany. Pediatr Res 62, 209–214 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1203/PDR.0b013e3180ca7c5b
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/PDR.0b013e3180ca7c5b
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