title: Comparison of two fetal growth curves in screening for high-risk neonates.
abstract: The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10) defines the 10th percentiles on the fetal growth curve as the cutoff point for light- and small-for-gestational-age infants, instead of the mean bodyweight -1.5 standard deviation (SD) on the fetal growth curve, which has been used in Japan since 1983. Data on a 5260 sample of term neonates who were born during the 30-month period between January 1993 and June 1995 were obtained. The clinical usefulness of the 10th percentiles and mean bodyweight -1.5 SD cutoff on the fetal growth curve as screening criteria for high-risk neonates of light- and small-for-gestational-age infants was evaluated. There was a statistically significant higher morbidity rate among the neonates whose birthweight was below mean bodyweight -1.5 SD than for those whose birthweight was below the 10th percentile cut off. But there was no significant difference between the morbidity rate of neonates whose birthweight was between mean bodyweight -1.5 SD and the 10th percentile cutoff and the morbidity rate of neonates whose birthweight was above the 10th percentile cutoff. Therefore, mean bodyweight -1.5 SD on the fetal growth curve is a more effective means of screening for high-risk light- and small-for-gestational-age infants than the 10th percentile cutoff on the fetal growth curve.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Seibo International Catholic Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sakata
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nishida
mesh_terms: D001724:Birth Weight; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D015997:Neonatal Screening; D012306:Risk