Growth of very low birth weight preterm until 12 months of corrected age

Abstract

Introduction: facing the progressive increase in the survival of premature ta infants, a concern for health professionals would be related to the possible consequences arising from prematurity, among them the growth changes. Objectives: to describe the anthropometric variables of newborns Premature Very Low Birth Weight in the follow-up monitoring. Methods: observational, longitudinal and retrospective study, involving 71 children who left Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), with a weight lower than 1500 g who were treated between 2006 and 2013. They should have at least three outpatient visits within twelve months of corrected age after NCAU discharge, in the following periods: period I up to 3 months of corrected age; period II between 4-6 months of corrected age and period III between 7-12 months of corrected age. Results: the mean Gestational Age (GA) was 29.4 weeks, 51% male, birth weight 1073.2 g, 70% with appropriate GA. The hospitalization stay was 68.73 days. Weight Z score at birth -0.95; at discharge -3.05; in period I -2.4; period II -1.8; period III -1.2. Height at birth -1.21, at discharge -2.23; -2.5; -1.8 and -1.1 for the periods I, II and III , respectively. Regarding the PT Z score at birth -0.71; at discharge -1.5; and monitoring -1.1; - 0.8 and -0.5 respectively in the periods I, II and III. Conclusions: despite of the great Z score reduction in NICU, there was a progressive improvement during follow-up in the Z score in the three anthropometric variables.