Objective To assess the growth station, the upper respiratory infection frequency and consultation frequency of the geographically defined high risk neonatal population at 1-year-old based on both birthweight and gestational age.
Methods All infants admitted in our hospital from May in 2008 to May in 2009 were divided into three groups according to gestational age and birth weight, that were, group 1: born lt;32 completed gestational weeks and weighing ≥1 500 g; group 2: born after 32 completed gestational weeks and weighing lt;1 500 g; and group 3: born lt;32 completed gestational weeks and weighing lt;1 500 g. Information at 12 months corrected age about growth, the upper respiratory infection frequency and consultation frequency was collected.
Results The growth rate of weight and head circumference in group 3 were lower than that in group 1, and the length growth rate was lower than that in group 1 and group 2. Infants in group 3 suffered from more airway infections (median: 15.5) than in group 1 (12.5) and group 2 (8.5). Infants in group 3 needed more medical consultations (median: 27.5) than those in group 1(17.5) and group 2 (15.5).
Conclusions This study gives estimates for growth outcome, airway infection and consultation frequency at 12 months corrected age for very low birthweight infants ( lt;1 500 g) and for very preterm infants ( lt;32 completed gestational weeks). Gestational age and birth weight are the same important for predicting infants’ outcome and should therefore be integrated into clinical statistics.
Citation: WANG Hua,XIONG Ying. One Year Follow-up of Very Low Birthweight Infant and Extremely Preterm Infant. Chinese Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine, 2010, 10(11): 1253-1255. doi: 10.7507/1672-2531.20100580 Copy