ESPE Abstracts

There is not enough reasoned data on the dynamics of body weight indices in premature infants born small by gestational age (SGA).

Aim: To study the nutritional status in premature babies born small by gestational age, in the first 5 years of life.

Materials and Methods: The prospective study included preterm infant with SGA (n = 100) and prematurity corresponding to gestational age - AGA (n = 69) with their division taking into account gestational age: 32-36 weeks and 22-31 weeks. Assessment of body mass and body mass index (BMI, kg/m²) was carried out in the first 2 years of life, taking into account the corrected age. Frequency of dynamic observation: 2 times during the first year of life, then once a year. The data are presented as a median and interquartile range with an assessment of the significance of differences according to the Mann-Whitney test. The calculation of standard deviations (SD) of body mass and SD body mass index was carried out using the «Anthro» program (WHO).

Results: Body weight indicators at birth in premature babies born small by gestational age were consistently lower (P <0.01) than in premature babies corresponding to gestational age: at 32-36 weeks gestation - 650 [610; 932] g, -1.7 [-1.91; -1.38] SD. Moderately and late preterm with SGA reached body weight indices of preterm with AGA by age 4 years: 15.1 [13.2; 16.3] kg, -0.7 [-1.7; 0.1] SD. No body weight deficit was registered during the observation period. Overweight (SD BMI from +1.0 to +2.0 SD) was noted during the 5-year follow-up period in 21.2-27.3% of the surveyed, which did not significantly differ from the frequency indicators in the group of premature AGA (25, 0-30.0%, P > 0.05). Very preterm SGA did not reach the body mass indicators of AGA children: intergroup differences persisted throughout the observation period. At the age of 5 years, the body weight of very premature infants with SGA corresponded to 15.0 [14.8; 15.5] kg, in comparison with premature AGA - 16.5 [15.0; 18.4] kg. Quite often, very preterm SGA had a body weight deficit: at 6 months - 72.2% (in the case of AGA - 27.3%, P <0.05), at subsequent ages - from 11.1% to 16.7% (in the case of AGA - 7.7-13.6%, P > 0.05). Fetal growth retardation has an adverse effect on the subsequent physical development of premature babies, especially very preterm.