ESPE Abstracts

Background and aims: The physical growth of late preterm infants (LPI) is unknown, to investigate the growth of LPIs to provide the basis for growth evaluation of LPI.

Methods: Infants were recruited for a cohort study in Department of Primary Child Health Care, Children’s Hospital, Chongqing Medical University from May 2010 to November 2011. LPI and full term infants (FTI) were compared in terms of weight for age Z-scores (WAZ), length for age Z-scores (LAZ), head circumference for age Z-scores (HCZ), weight for length Z-scores (WLZ), and the velocity of all physical growth indicators (ΔWAZ, ΔLAZ, and ΔHCZ).

Results: 309 LPI and 418 FTI were included. The LPI gained obviously more in weight, length and head circumference than FTI within 1 year of age (P<0.0001). ΔWAZ1-4, ΔLAZ1-4, ΔLAZ4-8, and ΔHCZ1-4 were 1.74±0.89, 1.24±0.79, 0.79±0.7, and 0.98±0.83 respectively.

Conclusions: LPI grow faster than FTI, and there is a ‘catch-up growth’ in LPI.