Postnatal Growth in Preterm Infants and Later Health Outcomes: a Systematic Review

Overview

Journal Acta Paediatr

Specialty Pediatrics

Date 2015 Jul 17

PMID 26179961

Citations 130

Authors

Ken K Ong

Kathy Kennedy

Euridice Castaneda-Gutierrez

Stewart Forsyth

Keith M Godfrey

Berthold Koletzko

Marie E Latulippe

Susan E Ozanne

Ricardo Rueda

Marieke H Schoemaker

Eline M van der Beek

Stef van Buuren

Mary Fewtrell

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Unlabelled: In preterm infants, poor postnatal growth is associated with adverse neurocognitive outcomes; conversely, rapid postnatal growth is supposedly harmful for future development of metabolic diseases.

Conclusion: In this systematic review, observational studies reported consistent positive associations between postnatal weight or head growth and neurocognitive outcomes; however, there was limited evidence from the few intervention studies. Evidence linking postnatal weight gain to later adiposity and other cardiovascular disease risk factors in preterm infants was also limited.

Citing Articles

Association of Neonatal Morbidities and Postnatal Growth Faltering in Preterm Neonates.

Rogulska J, Fenton T, Szczapa T, Wroblewska-Seniuk K Healthcare (Basel). 2025; 13(3).

PMID: 39942424 PMC: 11817289. DOI: 10.3390/healthcare13030235.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on growth determinants in premature neonates: observational study in a secondary health service in Carapicuíba, São Paulo (2020-2023).

Martha V, Masquio D, Dos Santos L, Martha J, Martha P, de Paula Colares Neto G Front Pediatr. 2024; 12:1431402.

PMID: 39698472 PMC: 11652131. DOI: 10.3389/fped.2024.1431402.

Growth and Eating Behaviours at 2 Years Corrected Age in Extremely Low-Birthweight Babies; Secondary Cohort Analysis from the ProVIDe Trial.

Easton M, Bloomfield F, Jiang Y, Cormack B Nutrients. 2024; 16(23).

PMID: 39683489 PMC: 11643745. DOI: 10.3390/nu16234095.

Early postnatal growth failure in infants <1500 g in a Ugandan referral hospital: a retrospective cohort study.

Okalany N, Engebretsen I, Okello F, Olupot-Olupot P, Burgoine K BMC Pediatr. 2024; 24(1):706.

PMID: 39506674 PMC: 11539602. DOI: 10.1186/s12887-024-05172-5.

Time to adequate weight gain and predictors among low-birth-weight preterm neonates at Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of hospitals in Bahir-Dar.

Tigabu D, Gezie H, Baye F, Birhanu S, Workie H Sci Rep. 2024; 14(1):17139.

PMID: 39060308 PMC: 11282294. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-66856-7.

References

Finken M, Keijzer-Veen M, Dekker F, Frolich M, Hille E, Romijn J . Preterm birth and later insulin resistance: effects of birth weight and postnatal growth in a population based longitudinal study from birth into adult life. Diabetologia. 2006; 49(3):478-85. DOI: 10.1007/s00125-005-0118-y. View

Weisglas-Kuperus N, Hille E, Duivenvoorden H, Finken M, Wit J, Buuren S . Intelligence of very preterm or very low birthweight infants in young adulthood. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2008; 94(3):F196-200. DOI: 10.1136/adc.2007.135095. View

Baird J, Fisher D, Lucas P, Kleijnen J, Roberts H, Law C . Being big or growing fast: systematic review of size and growth in infancy and later obesity. BMJ. 2005; 331(7522):929. PMC: 1261184. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.38586.411273.E0. View

Huang C, Martorell R, Ren A, Li Z . Cognition and behavioural development in early childhood: the role of birth weight and postnatal growth. Int J Epidemiol. 2012; 42(1):160-71. PMC: 3600622. DOI: 10.1093/ije/dys207. View

Ludwig-Auser H, Sherar L, Erlandson M, Baxter-Jones A, Jackowski S, Arnold C . Influence of nutrition provision during the first two weeks of life in premature infants on adolescent body composition and blood pressure. Zhongguo Dang Dai Er Ke Za Zhi. 2013; 15(3):161-70. View

Wood N, Costeloe K, Gibson A, Hennessy E, Marlow N, Wilkinson A . The EPICure study: growth and associated problems in children born at 25 weeks of gestational age or less. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2003; 88(6):F492-500. PMC: 1763245. DOI: 10.1136/fn.88.6.f492. View

Ong K . Catch-up growth in small for gestational age babies: good or bad?. Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes. 2007; 14(1):30-4. DOI: 10.1097/MED.0b013e328013da6c. View

Lucas A, Morley R, Cole T, Gore S . A randomised multicentre study of human milk versus formula and later development in preterm infants. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 1994; 70(2):F141-6. PMC: 1061016. DOI: 10.1136/fn.70.2.f141. View

Cooke R, McCormick K, Griffin I, Embleton N, Faulkner K, Wells J . Feeding preterm infants after hospital discharge: effect of diet on body composition. Pediatr Res. 1999; 46(4):461-4. DOI: 10.1203/00006450-199910000-00017. View

10.

Stathis S, OCallaghan M, Harvey J, Rogers Y . Head circumference in ELBW babies is associated with learning difficulties and cognition but not ADHD in the school-aged child. Dev Med Child Neurol. 1999; 41(6):375-80. DOI: 10.1017/s0012162299000833. View

11.

Johnson M, Wootton S, Leaf A, Jackson A . Preterm birth and body composition at term equivalent age: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Pediatrics. 2012; 130(3):e640-9. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2011-3379. View

12.

Cooke R, Embleton N, Griffin I, Wells J, McCormick K . Feeding preterm infants after hospital discharge: growth and development at 18 months of age. Pediatr Res. 2001; 49(5):719-22. DOI: 10.1203/00006450-200105000-00018. View

13.

Singhal A, Cole T, Fewtrell M, Deanfield J, Lucas A . Is slower early growth beneficial for long-term cardiovascular health?. Circulation. 2004; 109(9):1108-13. DOI: 10.1161/01.CIR.0000118500.23649.DF. View

14.

Ford G, Rickards A, KITCHEN W, Ryan M, Lissenden J . Relationship of growth and psychoneurologic status of 2-year-old children of birthweight 500-999 g. Early Hum Dev. 1986; 13(3):329-37. DOI: 10.1016/0378-3782(86)90068-x. View

15.

Keijzer-Veen M, Finken M, Nauta J, Dekker F, Hille E, Frolich M . Is blood pressure increased 19 years after intrauterine growth restriction and preterm birth? A prospective follow-up study in The Netherlands. Pediatrics. 2005; 116(3):725-31. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2005-0309. View

16.

Casey P, Whiteside-Mansell L, Barrett K, Bradley R, Gargus R . Impact of prenatal and/or postnatal growth problems in low birth weight preterm infants on school-age outcomes: an 8-year longitudinal evaluation. Pediatrics. 2006; 118(3):1078-86. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2006-0361. View

17.

Latal-Hajnal B, von Siebenthal K, Kovari H, Bucher H, Largo R . Postnatal growth in VLBW infants: significant association with neurodevelopmental outcome. J Pediatr. 2003; 143(2):163-70. DOI: 10.1067/S0022-3476(03)00243-9. View

18.

Brandt I, Sticker E, Lentze M . Catch-up growth of head circumference of very low birth weight, small for gestational age preterm infants and mental development to adulthood. J Pediatr. 2003; 142(5):463-8. DOI: 10.1067/mpd.2003.149. View

19.

Osmond C, Barker D . Fetal, infant, and childhood growth are predictors of coronary heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension in adult men and women. Environ Health Perspect. 2000; 108 Suppl 3:545-53. PMC: 1637808. DOI: 10.1289/ehp.00108s3545. View

20.

Koo W, Hockman E . Posthospital discharge feeding for preterm infants: effects of standard compared with enriched milk formula on growth, bone mass, and body composition. Am J Clin Nutr. 2006; 84(6):1357-64. DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/84.6.1357. View