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Growth failure in infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome in the neonatal intensive care unit

Journal of Perinatology volume 42, pages 313–318 (2022)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective

To assess if infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) are smaller at birth and have decreased growth parameters between birth and discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Methods

Retrospective data analysis of term/late-preterm neonates with NAS at a single-center NICU between September 2006 and May 2018. Growth parameters (weight, length, HC) were measured at birth and discharge. Z scores and percentiles were calculated using WHO standard growth curves.

Results

A total of 864 infants ≥35 weeks were admitted for NAS. At birth, median percentiles were weight 30%, HC 23%, and length 37%; these decreased significantly (p < 0.001) at discharge to 12%, 6.5%, and 13%, respectively. The percentage of infants <3rd percentile increased significantly (p < 0.001) in all growth parameters from birth to discharge.

Conclusion

Infants with NAS are smaller at birth and have significant growth retardation in all growth parameters at discharge. An ongoing long-term growth follow-up study will discern the impact of growth restriction in NAS infants.

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Fig. 1: Growth percentiles at birth and at discharge using WHO growth curve.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neonatology, Christiana Care Health System, Newark, DE, USA

    Michael T. Favara

  2. Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Jessica Smith, Daniela Friedman, Margaret Lafferty, David Carola, Susan Adeniyi-Jones, Jay Greenspan & Zubair H. Aghai

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  1. Michael T. Favara
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  2. Jessica Smith
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  4. Margaret Lafferty
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  5. David Carola
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  6. Susan Adeniyi-Jones
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  7. Jay Greenspan
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  8. Zubair H. Aghai
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Contributions

MTF conceptualized and designed the study, searched the literature, extracted and analyzed the data, and drafted the initial paper. Ms. JS and DF extracted and analyzed the data, critically reviewed and revised the paper. ML, DC, SA-J, and JG critically reviewed the data analysis, critically reviewed and revised the paper. ZHA conceptualized and designed the study, searched the literature, analyzed the data, critically reviewed and revised the paper. All authors approved the final paper as submitted and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

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Correspondence to Zubair H. Aghai.

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Favara, M.T., Smith, J., Friedman, D. et al. Growth failure in infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome in the neonatal intensive care unit. J Perinatol 42, 313–318 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-021-01183-7

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