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Marginally low birthweight increases the risk of underweight and short stature at three and a half years of age
Author(s) -
Berglund Staffan K.,
Kriström Berit,
Björn Matias,
Lindberg Josefine,
Westrup Björn,
Norman Mikael,
Domellöf Magnus
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
acta paediatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/apa.13356
Subject(s) - underweight , medicine , short stature , birth weight , pediatrics , gestational age , body mass index , small for gestational age , weight gain , low birth weight , prospective cohort study , demography , pregnancy , body weight , overweight , sociology , biology , genetics
Aim Little is known about the long‐term health of marginally low birthweight ( LBW ) children. This study characterised growth among infants weighing 2000 g–2500 g and explored the prevalence and predictors of sustained growth restriction. Method This prospective observational trial followed the weight and height of 281 Swedish marginally LBW children from birth to 3.5 years of age. Children with a standard deviation score ( SDS ) for body mass index or height below −2 were considered underweight and short, respectively. Results The mean SDS for weight and height showed a rapid increase before 12–19 weeks of age. The most rapid weight gain was in infants born small for gestational age. However, at 3.5 years of age, 9.5% of the children remained underweight and 6.5% had short stature. Regression models showed that slow weight gain before 19 weeks of age was the strongest predictor for lasting underweight, while slow height gain before 19 weeks of age and male sex were associated with short stature. Conclusion Marginally LBW infants were more likely to be underweight and have a short stature at 3.5 years of age and the absence of catch‐up growth during the first five months after birth identified those at highest risk.