title: A longitudinal evaluation of growth outcomes at hospital discharge of very-low-birth-weight preterm infants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To quantify the rate of progressive failure of very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants over time in the neonatal intensive care unit to meet growth milestones.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective longitudinal study, 114 VLBW preterm infants (1500 g) of both sexes, with normal and/or low weight for gestational age were included. At the start, weight, length, mid-upper arm (MUAC), thigh and cephalic circumferences were measured. Weight/age (W/A), length/age and weight/length (±2 z-score) indices were calculated. All measurements were taken at inclusion, at 7, 15 and 30 days of hospitalization. Chi-square test, analysis of variance and repeated-measures tests were estimated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirteen cases (14%) died and were excluded soon after the first determinations. In all, 9 (8.9%) died during the study, 12 (11.9%) were discharged before 30 days of life and 80 (79.2%) completed the study. At 7 days, the percentage of preterm infants with an index of W/A <-2 z-scores increased from 44 to 67% (44-68 subjects; P<0.01), with no changes afterwards; the indicator MUAC <-2 z-scores increased at 7 days from 23 to 49% (23-49 subjects); at 15 from 23 to 65% (23-61 subjects) and at 30 days from 23 to 79% (23-63 subjects; P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinicians could use these indicators for earlier detection of growth failure in VLBW infants in order to target more aggressive nutrition early.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Nutrición Humana, Universidad de Guadalajara, Hospital Civil de Guadalajara Dr Juan I Menchaca, Guadalajara, México.
authors.forename: Y E
authors.initials: YE
authors.lastname: Larios-Del Toro
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Vásquez-Garibay
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: González-Ojeda
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ramírez-Valdivia
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Troyo-Sanromán
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carmona-Flores
mesh_terms: D001835:Body Weight; D005183:Failure to Thrive / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000254:growth & development*; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / Q000254:growth & development*; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies