365 Growth of Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants During Two Decades

Abstract

Postnatal growth retardation is common among ELBW infants and poor head circumference (HC) growth has been associated with poor cognitive outcome. We studied whether postnatal growth of ELBW infants has improved during the last decade.

Subjects and Methods: ELBW infants admitted to the NICU of the Helsinki University Hospital during yr 1996-7 (n=61) and 2006-7 (n=64) with follow up data available up to 12 mo of co age were included. Growth parameters were collected retrospectively, Student's t-test used for statistical analyses and p< 0.05 considered significant.

Results: The mean gestational age, weight, length and HC at birth were similar in both periods. Boys born during the latter period were heavier, longer and had a larger HC at 40 wk (3292 vs 2684g, 49.0 vs 46.6cm and 36.0 vs 33.9cm, p < 0.05) and at 12 mo co age (9607 vs 8962g, 76.4 vs 74.3cm and 47.5 vs 46.1cm, p < 0.05) than those born during the first period. Girls born during the latter period were longer (74.1 vs 72.0 cm, p < 0.05) and had a larger HC (45.9 vs 44.7 cm, p < 0.05) at 12 mo than those born during the first period. The daily weight gain before 40wk of gestation tended to be higher during the latter period (23.4g vs 20.8g, p=0.06).

Conclusion: ELBW infants born 2006-7 had a larger HC and were longer at 12 mo corrected age than those born 1996-7.

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