Abstract
Detailed anthropometric assessment was made of 124 VLBW [<1500g] survivors, and age, sex and social class matched controls, at 8-10 years of age. The controls were taller, with longer legs (mean HlSDS +0.37; mean LLSDS +0.65) than the current T&W standards and the VLBW group {mean HtSDS −0.2; mean LLSDS +0.05). The VLBW group also showed significantly reduced weight & lean body mass [p=0.000l], reduced head circumference [p=0.002] and increased cephalic index [p=0.0001]. The LL of the VLBW group was the measurement most likely to be abnormal, [relative risk compared to controls = 2.96]. There were also significant anthropometric differences within the VLBW cohort with ex-small for gestational age (SGA) infants being shorter [p=0.03], lighter [p=<0.01] and having reduced sitting heights [p=0.008] and smaller heads [p=0.0001] than ex-appropriate for gestational age (AGA) infants. TWII bone age was calculated for the VLBW children only and the bone age-chronological age gap was not significantly different to zero & there was no significant difference between the SGA and AGA groups. The pattern of height and proportion in the VLBW group is similar, bul less severe, to that exhibited by abused children and identical to children of the late 1950's.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
MacKenzie, C., Primhak, R. & Wales, J. ANTHROPOMETRY OF VLBW SURVIVORS AT 8–10 YEARS OF AGE. Pediatr Res 33 (Suppl 5), S71 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199305001-00408
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199305001-00408