Abstract
Follow-up of infants <1.5kg (VLBW) has focused predominantly on birthweight (BW) rather than gestational age(GA), We sought to determine the impact of intrauterine growth retardation on 3 year outcome, controlling for GA. Of 182 VLBW born in 1977-1978 and followed to 3 years of age we were able to match only 17 pairs of appropriate for GA (AGA) and small for GA (SGA) infants by: GA (within 1 week), race, sex, multiple birth and social class. SGA was defined as BW <-2SD for gestational age at birth, excluding congenital malformations or infections.
No significant differences were documented in maternal age, education, perinatal risk, method of delivery or neonatal course including Apgars, RDS, apnea, jaundice and sepsis.
The incidence of chronic disease(AGA 2, SGA 3), neurologic abnormality (AGA 1, SGA 0) and mean 3 yr IQ, was similar; however, more SGA children had a subnormal (<-2SD) weight (WT), height and head circumference (HC) (p<.05) at 3 years. Within the SGA group, the IQ of those(11) with a normal HC was 96±11 vs 86±12 for those(6) with a subnormal HC at 3 years.
Thus, despite growth failure in 53% of SGA with differential effects of subnormal HC growth on IQ, grouped data reveals comparable neurodevelopmental outcomes among SGA and AGA infants.
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Hack, M., Breslau, N. & Fanaroff, A. 1405 OUTCOMES FOR AGA AND SGA VERY LOW BIRTHWEIGHT INFANTS CONTROLLING FOR GESTATIONAL AGE. Pediatr Res 19, 345 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-01429
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-01429