Growth and somatic health until adulthood of low birthweight children.
OBJECTIVE
To compare trajectories for growth and somatic health characteristics until adulthood of non-handicapped low birthweight (LBW) and normal birthweight (NBW) children.


METHODS
Population-based longitudinal follow-up study.


METHODS
LBW (<2 kg) and NBW (>3 kg) children were followed at 5, 11 and 19 years of age. At 19 years 134 of 173 subjects with LBW (77%), and 135 of the 170 with NBW (79%) participated.


RESULTS
Current health and body mass index (BMI) were similar for the groups. The LBW adults were shorter (5.9 cm), had higher systolic (4.5 mm Hg) and diastolic (2.0 mm Hg) blood pressures (BPs), higher heart rates (3.7 beats per min), lower forced expiratory flow at 50% of forced vital capacity (8.5%) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity ratios (0.03). All p values are <0.01 for the differences of means given above. Differences in height were mostly due to differences in parental height. From childhood, percentiles for height and systolic BP were maintained for both groups while diastolic BP increased more for the LBW children. The LBW young adults caught up in body proportions.


CONCLUSIONS
Difference in height and systolic BP between the LBW and NBW children tend to be maintained from childhood until young adulthood. The LBW young adults experience catch-up growth in body proportions. The LBW young adults have lower pulmonary function.
Odberg
Morten Duus
MD
Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway. morten.duus.odberg@helse-bergen.no
Sommerfelt
Kristian
K
Markestad
Trond
T
Elgen
Irene Bircow
IB
D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight / Q000254:growth & development*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age / Q000254:growth & development; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation / Q000502:physiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000502:physiology