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Neonatal hyperglycemia and diminished long-term growth in very low birth weight preterm infants

Journal of Perinatology volume 33, pages 882–886 (2013)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the association between early hyperglycemia and growth and development from hospital discharge to 2 years corrected age (CA) in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.

STUDY DESIGN:

Blood glucose levels during the first 14 days after birth, weight, length and occipital-frontal circumference (OFC) at birth, hospital discharge and 4, 12 and 24 months CA, Bayley developmental scores at 12 and 24 months CA, and information on multiple clinical variables were recorded on VLBW preterm infants (N=80). The relationships between hyperglycemia, growth and developmental scores were determined using linear mixed effects regression.

RESULT:

Hyperglycemia was a strong predictor of poor rate of increase in weight, length and OFC until 24 months CA. Hyperglycemia was not associated with lower scores on the Bayley scales.

CONCLUSION:

Neonatal hyperglycemia was associated with poor physical growth until at least 2 years CA in this cohort of VLBW preterm infants.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    S E Ramel, K Durrwachter-Erno & R Rao

  2. Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA

    J D Long

  3. Department of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    H Gray & E W Demerath

Authors
  1. S E Ramel
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  2. J D Long
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  3. H Gray
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  4. K Durrwachter-Erno
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  5. E W Demerath
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  6. R Rao
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to S E Ramel.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Ramel, S., Long, J., Gray, H. et al. Neonatal hyperglycemia and diminished long-term growth in very low birth weight preterm infants. J Perinatol 33, 882–886 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2013.77

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