Abstract
Background: The inutero environment impacts on size at birth, and the importance of sex on growth trajectories warrants closer analysis. Nutrition provided during the NICU stay and longitudinal parameters to 17 is studied.
Methods: 110 very preterm infants(VPI) and 113 term controls(TC) have been followed to age 17 years. During the NICU stay nutrition provided including breast feeding was collected. Methods used to assess growth after birth of VPI include weigh Z score by 36 weeks(w), and the Exponential Method (EM). Anthropometric data was collected at 2, 4, 6, 9, 12 and 17.
Results: The important variables affecting postnatal growth in VPI are time to full feeds, duration of TPN and time to start milk fortifier. During the NICU stay change in weight Z score to 36w was similar by sex, but higher in SGA (p = 0.036). EM growth was higher for girls p = 0.005 and this sex difference was present if Small for Gestation age (SGA).
Despite earlier differences in BMI, Weight Z score, at 17 these and Fat Free Mass Index (FFMI) and Fat Mass Index (FMI) were similar to TC. However when compared by sex, the VPI girls had significantly lower FFMI (p < 0.003) and higher FMI (p < 0.002) at 17.
Preterm girls have different growth trajectories with lower waist to heightZ at 9 (p < 0.009) and 12 (p < 0.08), but not at 17. However, at 17 overall the VPT were higher than TC suggesting an overall increase in central adiposity.
Conclusions: It is recognised that sex affects mortality and morbidity in NICU outcomes. Our longitudinal study of growth outcomes suggests they should be.
Poster presentation.