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Significance of neonatal body indices in identifying fetal macrosomia

Journal of Perinatology volume 33, pages 103–106 (2013)Cite this article

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Abstract

Objective:

To explore the significance of neonatal body indices in identifying macrosomic infants, we compared the neonatal birth weight, body length, head circumference, chest circumference, neonatal body indices, Quetelet index (QI), Kaup Index (KI), head circumference to chest circumference ratio (HC/CC) and maternal fasting blood glucose (BG) for both diabetic and healthy mothers.

Study Design:

This is a retrospective study of 177 macrosomic neonates, 100 having been born to normal mothers and 77 to diabetic mothers. Multiple regression analyses were done between neonatal body indices and maternal fasting BG.

Result:

Fetal QI and KI indices of macrosomic infants of diabetic mothers were higher compared with those born to healthy mothers, whereas the HC/CC was the reverse. The multiple regression equation used to compare neonatal physical development indices to maternal fasting BG was BG=6.959+0.031QI−(4.482 × HC/CC). QI and HC/CC had linear relationships to maternal fasting BG (P<0.05). As birth weight had no direct correlation with maternal fasting BG, it was not introduced into the regression equation.

Conclusion:

Higher QI and KI along with lower HC/CC may be a predictor of macrosomia due to maternal diabetes when compared with birth weight alone.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by 2010 Educational key laboratory Project in Liaoning province (NO. LS2010164).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning, PRC

    Y Song, S Zhang & W Song

  2. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Benxi Central Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning, PRC

    Y Song

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  1. Y Song
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Correspondence to W Song.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Song, Y., Zhang, S. & Song, W. Significance of neonatal body indices in identifying fetal macrosomia. J Perinatol 33, 103–106 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2012.58

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