title: Implementation of a Nutrition Program Reduced Post-Discharge Growth Restriction in Thai Very Low Birth Weight Preterm Infants.
abstract: Very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm infants are vulnerable to growth restriction after discharge due to cumulative protein and energy deficits during their hospital stay and early post-discharge period. The current study evaluated the effectiveness of the preterm infant, post-discharge nutrition (PIN) program to reduce post-discharge growth restriction in Thai VLBW preterm infants. A prospective, non-randomized interventional cohort study was undertaken to assess the growth of 22 VLBW preterm infants who received the PIN program and compared them with 22 VLBW preterm infants who received conventional nutrition services. Infant's growth was recorded monthly until the infants reached six months' corrected age (6-moCA). Intervention infants had significantly greater body weights (p= 0.013) and head circumferences (p= 0.009). Also, a greater proportion of the intervention group recovered their weight to the standard weight at 4-moCA (p= 0.027) and at 6-moCA (p= 0.007) and their head circumference to the standard head circumference at 6-moCA (p= 0.004) compared to their historical comparison counterparts. Enlistment in the PIN program thus resulted in significantly reduced post-discharge growth restriction in VLBW preterm infants. Further research on longer term effects of the program on infant's growth and development is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand. scdj01@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Suchada
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Japakasetr
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, Rangsit University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand. chutimabk@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Chutima
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sirikulchayanonta
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand. u_suthut@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Umaporn
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Suthutvoravut
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand. pybcd@mahidol.ac.th.
authors.forename: Busba
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chindavijak
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nutrition Sciences, Kagawa Nutrition University, Saitama Prefecture 350-0288, Japan. mskagawa@eiyo.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Masaharu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kagawa
authors.affiliation: Nursing Department, Buddhasothorn Hospital, Chachoengsao 24000, Thailand. somjainokdee@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Somjai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nokdee
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001724:Birth Weight; D001827:Body Height; D002508:Cephalometry; D002657:Child Development; D005248:Feeding Methods; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006257:Head / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000254:growth & development*; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / Q000254:growth & development*; D008297:Male; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010351:Patient Discharge; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013785:Thailand; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015430:Weight Gain
keywords: growth restriction; nutrition program; post-discharge; very low birth weight preterm infant