A comparative study of postnatal anthropometric growth in very preterm infants and intrauterine growth.

ABSTRACT: Most growth references for very preterm infants were developed using measurements taken at birth, and were thought to represent intrauterine growth. However, it remains unclear whether the goal of approximating an intrauterine growth rate as stated by the American Academy of Pediatrics is attainable by very preterm infants. Using real-world measurement data from very preterm infants born between 2010 through 2020, we develop models to characterize the patterns of postnatal growth, and compare them to intrauterine growth. By assessing the weight growth rate, we show three phases of postnatal growth not evident in intrauterine growth. Furthermore, postnatal length and head circumference growth exhibit a slow rate after birth, followed by an acceleration. Collectively, postnatal and intrauter

SUBMITTER: Chou FS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10509139 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature