Neonatal mortality and morbidity in extremely preterm small for gestational age infants: a population based study.
OBJECTIVE
To assess if growth restricted (small for gestational age, SGA) extremely preterm infants have excess neonatal mortality and morbidity.


METHODS
This was a cohort study of all infants born alive at 22-27 weeks' post menstrual age in Norway during 1999-2000. Outcomes were compared between those who were SGA, defined as a birth weight less than the fifth percentile for post menstrual age, and those who had weights at or above the fifth percentile.


RESULTS
Of 365 infants with a post menstrual age of <28 weeks, 31 (8%) were SGA. Among infants with a post menstrual age of <28 weeks, only chronic lung disease was associated with SGA status (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.0 to 7.2). SGA infants with a post menstrual age of 26-27 weeks had excess neonatal mortality (OR 3.8, 95% CI 1.3 to 11), chronic lung disease and a significantly higher mean number of days (age) before tolerating full enteral nutrition. SGA infants with a post menstrual age of 22-25 weeks had an excess risk of necrotising enterocolitis.


CONCLUSIONS
Extremely preterm SGA infants had excess neonatal mortality and morbidity in terms of necrotising enterocolitis and chronic lung disease.
Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway. helenwold@broadpark.no
S H
SH
Westby Wold
K
K
Sommerfelt
H
H
Reigstad
A
A
Rønnestad
S
S
Medbø
T
T
Farstad
P I
PI
Kaaresen
R
R
Støen
K T
KT
Leversen
L M
LM
Irgens
T
T
Markestad
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000592:standards*; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D015997:Neonatal Screening; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D012307:Risk Factors