Growth charts and long-term sequelae in extreme preterm infants - from full-term age to 10 years

AimTo describe growth pattern from full-term age to 10years in infants born before 26weeks of gestation. MethodThis retrospective longitudinal cohort contained 123 children from Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, during 1990-2002. Length/height (Ht), weight (Wt) and head circumference (HC) were recorded monthly during the first year, every 3months until 2years and yearly thereafter, but HC at 15months and at median age of 8.1/9.7years (range 2-14) in boys/girls. ResultsFor boys/girls at birth, the mean Z-score for Ht was -0.2/-0.2, for Wt 0.0/-0.2 and for HC 0.0/-0.3. At term, the mean Z-score for Ht was -3.8/-3.1, for Wt -3.0/-2.5 and for HC -1.7/-1.2. At 1year, the mean Z-score for Ht was-1.3/-1.3, for Wt -1.9/-1.7 and for HC -1.2/-1.0. At 2years, the mean Z-score for Ht was -1.3/-1.1, for Wt -1.6/-1.2 and at 10years for Ht -0.7/-0.4; that was on average -0.3 below mid-parental height; for Wt -0.2/-0.2. Long-term sequelae were found in 48% of the boys and 34% of the girls. ConclusionBy 10years of age, the attained mean Ht was in accordance with their genetic potential and almost half of these children had significant long-term sequelae.