Growth of premature infants with birth weight less than 1500 grams in a University Hospital from Espírito Santo state, Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: In front of the continuous advancement in neonatal care, there is a noticeable increase in the survival of preterm infants with lower gestational ages. This underscores the importance of fol­low-up care to ensure the proper growth and development of these patients within society. Objectives: To describe the growth patterns of preterm infants with birth weights less than 1500 grams who were monitored at the outpatient follow-up clinic for high-risk newborns at a University Hospital in Espíri­to Santo. Methods: A cross-sectional, retrospective, and descriptive study of the growth of preterm infants with birth weights less than 1500g, who were evaluated in at least 3 outpatient follow-up con­sultations between October 2020 and September 2021, up to 12 months of corrected age. Results: 54 preterm infants were evaluated, with an average gestational age of 29 weeks, 61.11% female, average birth weight of 1145.72g, and 72.22% small for gestational age (SGA). The average Z score for birth weight was -0.33SD; at hospital discharge -1.83SD; in period I -1.18SD; period II -0.78SD; period III -0.43SD. Height: -0.69SD at birth, -2.08SD at discharge, -1.43SD; -0.65SD; and -0.43SD in periods I, II, and III, respectively. Regarding head circumference: Z score at birth -0.25SD; at discharge -1.84SD; and in follow-up -0.98SD; -0.58SD; and -0.43SD in periods I, II, and III, respectively. Conclusion: At 12 months of corrected age, the majority of evaluated preterm infants achieved appropriate values for the three anthropometric variables, with Z score averages in period III resembling the birth averages.