title: The relationship of ponderal index and other measurements to birthweight in preterm neonates.
abstract: The objective was to determine the relationship between birthweight and anthropometric indices (PI and MAC/ OFC) in preterm infants. A group of 163 singleton preterm neonates born at 24-36 weeks were examined. Measurements were made of crown-heel length, midarm circumference, and occipito-frontal circumference. Birthweights were calculated as multiples of the mean (MoMs) for a given stage of gestation. There was a highly significant correlation between gestational age and MAC/OFC (p < 0.0001) but none with ponderal index. There was a significant correlation between weight expressed as multiples of the mean and both ponderal index (p < 0.008) and MAC/OFC (p < 0.0001). This relationship between birthweight and anthropometric indices suggests that measurement of the ponderal index does not provide a useful index of intrauterine nutrition.
authors.affiliation: Division of Obstetrics, Gynaecology, St. Bartholomew's Hospital, Royal London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, U.K.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chard
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Soe
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Costeloe
mesh_terms: D000886:Anthropometry; D001724:Birth Weight; D001835:Body Weight; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D009778:Occipital Lobe / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D012044:Regression Analysis