title: Head circumference catch-up growth among preterm very low birth weight infants: effect on neurodevelopmental outcome.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine whether head circumference (HC) catch-up is associated with improved neurocognitive development.
  
  
  
  A retrospective cohort study was conducted in 179 preterm very low birth weight (VLBW) (BW≤1500 g) infants. The infants were born in 2000-2002 and were followed to the age of 5.5 years. The association between HC catch-up and neurodevelopmental outcome was assessed and perinatal risk factors, infant characteristics and nutritional practices associated with HC catch-up were determined.
  
  
  
  HC catch-up occurred in 59 (34%) infants and was positively correlated with neurodevelopmental outcome. The likelihood of HC catch-up increased with increasing birth weight and gestational age. HC catch-up occurred more often with breast milk feeding during hospitalization and with supplemental formula feeding at discharge, but decreased in prevalence with longer duration of breastfeeding after discharge. HC catch-up was more likely to occur in first-born infants and in families with high socioeconomic status. Most HC catch-up occurred between birth and three months corrected age.
  
  
  
  Among preterm-VLBW infants, there is a close relation between HC growth and neurodevelopmental outcome. Efforts to improve neurocognitive outcomes should focus on factors associated with HC catch-up.
authors: Division of Pediatric Nutrition and Prevention, Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Austria. elaheh.ghods@meduniwien.ac.at
authors: Elaheh
authors: E
authors: Ghods
authors: Alexandra
authors: A
authors: Kreissl
authors: Sophie
authors: S
authors: Brandstetter
authors: Renate
authors: R
authors: Fuiko
authors: Kurt
authors: K
authors: Widhalm
mesh_terms: D002508:Cephalometry; D002657:Child Development; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006257:Head / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development; D006801:Humans; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors