Full Citation
Title: Weight for length measures may not accurately reflect adiposity in preterm infants born appropriate for gestational age during hospitalisation or after discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit
Citation Type: Journal Article
Publication Year: 2021
ISBN:
ISSN: 20476310
DOI: 10.1111/ijpo.12744
NSFID:
PMCID:
PMID: 33140910
Abstract: Background: Weight/length (W/L) indices are poor surrogates for adiposity in preterm infants born appropriate for gestational age (AGA) at birth, but whether the association subsequently improves is unknown. Objective: To determine if W/L indices accurately reflect adiposity in premature infants born AGA in later infancy. Methods: Associations between W/L indices and fat mass, fat mass index and percent body fat (%BF) obtained via air displacement plethysmography (ADP) were examined in 260 preterm infants (majority born AGA) at 28 to 63 weeks' postmenstrual age (PMA). Accuracy of W/L indices as indicators of adiposity was assessed by proportion of variance explained (R2) and root mean square error from linear regression of adiposity on W/L indices and proportion of infants misclassified by W/L indices. Accuracy was further compared in term vs preterm infants at term-equivalent age. The impact of early vs late preterm status on associations between W/L indices and %BF was also examined. Results: BMI and W/L were most strongly associated with %BF but yielded poorly fitting models (maximum R2 = 0.35; 53% misclassification). A significant interaction of W/L indices and early vs late preterm status on %BF revealed that estimation of %BF differs by status. Accuracy of W/L indices was worse in preterm infants at term-equivalent age. Conclusions: W/L indices were not good indicators of adiposity in preterm infants from 28 to 63 weeks' PMA (born AGA) with all categories of W/L indices combined. Future research should examine whether results are similar in preterm infants born with disproportionate W/L or who experience disproportionate growth postnatally.
Url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33140910/
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Authors: Nagel, Emily M.; Desjardins, Christopher; Earthman, Carrie; Ramel, Sara E.; Demerath, Ellen W.
Periodical (Full): Pediatric Obesity
Issue: 5
Volume: 16
Pages:
Countries: