ESPE Abstracts

Aim: to evaluate the frequency and predictors of short stature in preterm infants born small for gestational age (SGA), by the age of 5 years. Materials and Methods. We examined 100 premature babies (gestational age of 22-31 weeks – 18, 32-36 weeks – 82), born SGA with the tables Fenton T. R. et al. (2013). Protocol included an assessment of anthropometric indicators and IGF-1 levels in the blood at birth, at the ages of 1 and 5 years. The odds ratio (OR) for verification of risk factors for clinically significant short stature (growth below -2.0 SD relative to chronological age and gender, program Anthro, WHO, 2006) to age 5 years was calculated.

Results: The median body length/height at birth was 40.0 [35.5; 44.0] cm, at the age of 5 years – 104.5 [99.5; 108.5] cm, -1.1 [-2.1; -0.2] SD. The frequency of clinically significant growth retardation by the age of 5 years was at the level of 27.1%, including those born at 22-31 weeks of gestation – 33.3%, 32-36 weeks of gestation – 24.2%. Predictors of poor growth prognosis in premature infants with SGA: gestational age at birth less than 32 weeks (OR 7.3; 95% CI 1.4-38.3), placental insufficiency (OR 7.3; 95% CI 1.4-38.3), SGA (light/short) (OR 5.2; 95% CI 1.1-27.6), severe perinatal nervous system damage – grade 3 cerebral ischemia, intraventricular hemorrhages (OR 5.2; 95% CI 1.1-27.6), clinically significant growth deficit at corrected age 1 year (OR 33.6; 95% CI 3.34-337.0), IGF-1 levels below -1.0 SD at corrected age 1 year (OR 17.1; 95% CI 1.7-172.0) and 5 years (OR 8,9; 95% CI 1,6-49,8).

Conclusions. Growth retardation is a clinically significant problem for premature babies born SGA, and is determined by the influence of a set of factors.