title: Postdischarge growth assessment in very low birth weight infants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The goal of nutritional support for very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants from birth to term is to match thein uterogrowth rates; however, this is rarely achieved.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated postdischarge growth patterns and growth failure in 81 Korean VLBW infants through a retrospective study. Weight and height were measured and calculated based on age percentile distribution every 3 months until age 24 months. Growth failure was defined as weight and height below the 10th percentile at 24 months. For the subgroup analysis, small-for-gestational age (SGA) and extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants were evaluated. The growth patterns based on the Korean, World Health Organization (WHO), or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) standard were serially compared over time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At postconception age (PCA) 40 weeks, 47 (58%) and 45 infants (55%) showed growth failure in terms of weight and height, respectively. At PCA 24 months, 20 infants (24%) showed growth failure for weight and 14 (18%) for height. Growth failure rates were higher for the SGA infants than for the appropriate-weight-for-gestational age infants at PCA 24 months (P=0.045 for weight andP=0.038 for height). Growth failure rates were higher for the ELBW infants than for the non-ELBW infants at PCA 24 months (P<0.001 for weight andP=0.003 for height). Significant differences were found among the WHO, CDC, and Korean standards (P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Advancements in neonatal care have improved the catch-up growth of VLBW infants, but this is insufficient. Careful observation and aggressive interventions, especially in SGA and ELBW infants, are needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Joon-Sik
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jungho
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Soon Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ho Seon
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Eun
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Min-Soo
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kook-In
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Namgung
keywords: Extremely low birth weight infant; Gestational age; Premature infant; Small for gestational age infant; Very low birth weight infant