Anthropometric indices at age 17 years of full-term neonates born short.
BACKGROUND
Measurements at the end of puberty of neonates short for gestational age (SGA-L) are scant.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the correlation between birth length and weight in neonates, with height and weight at age 17 years.


METHODS
385 full-term neonates, measuring less than 48 cm (SGA-L) and 585 full-term neonates, measuring 48 cm or greater (adequate birth length for gestational age; AGA-L) were included. 234 SGA-L and 359 AGA-L were identified at age 17 years.


RESULTS
Comparison of the two groups revealed that both sexes born SGA-L were also shorter at age 17 years than those born AGA-L (girls 158.9 cm (SD 7.6) vs 164.2 cm (SD 64) (p<0.001) and boys 167.3 cm (SD 8.7) vs 173.8 cm (SD 7.1) (p<0.001)). The subjects born SGA-L also weighed significantly less than those born AGA-L (p<0.001) both at birth and at age 17 years.


CONCLUSIONS
Children born SGA-L become short adults and weigh less at age 17 years than children with a normal birth length.
Farfel
A
A
Endocrinology and Diabetes Research Unit, Schneider Children's Medical Center, Petah Tikva, Israel.
Afek
A
A
Derazne
E
E
Merlob
P
P
Linder
N
N
Laron
Z
Z
D000293:Adolescent; D041923:Adolescent Development / Q000502:physiology*; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age / Q000254:growth & development*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies