Growth failure of very low birth weight infants during the first 3 years: A Korean neonatal network

PLoS One. 2021 Oct 28;16(10):e0259080. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0259080. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

We aimed to evaluate risk factors for growth failure in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants at 18-24 months of corrected age (follow-up1, FU1) and at 36 months of age (follow-up2, FU2). In this prospective cohort study, a total of 2,943 VLBW infants from the Korean Neonatal Network between 2013 and 2015 finished follow-up at FU1. Growth failure was defined as a z-score below -1.28. Multiple logistic regression was used to analyze risk factors for growth failure after dividing the infants into small for gestational age (SGA) and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) groups. Overall, 18.7% of infants were SGA at birth. Growth failure was present in 60.0% at discharge, 20.3% at FU1, and 35.2% at FU2. Among AGA infants, male sex, growth failure at discharge, periventricular leukomalacia, treatment of retinopathy of prematurity, ventriculoperitoneal shunt status and treatment of rehabilitation after discharge were independent risk factors for growth failure at FU1. Among SGA infants, lower birth weight, pregnancy-induced hypertension, and treatment of rehabilitation after discharge were independent risk factors for growth failure at FU1. Mean weight z-score graphs from birth to 36 month of age revealed significant differences between SGA and non-SGA and between VLBW infants and extremely low birth weight infants. Growth failure remains an issue, and VLBW infants with risk factors should be closely checked for growth and nutrition.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Birth Weight / physiology
  • Child, Preschool
  • Failure to Thrive / etiology*
  • Female
  • Growth Disorders / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Small for Gestational Age / growth & development
  • Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / growth & development*
  • Male
  • Pregnancy
  • Prospective Studies
  • Republic of Korea
  • Risk Factors

Grants and funding

This research was supported by a fund(2019-ER7103-02#) by Research of the Korea National Institute of Health. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.