Weight for length measures may not accurately reflect adiposity in preterm infants born appropriate for gestational age during hospitalisation or after discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Weight/length (W/L) indices are poor surrogates for adiposity in preterm infants born appropriate for gestational age (AGA) at birth, but whether the association subsequently improves is unknown.

Objective

To determine if W/L indices accurately reflect adiposity in premature infants born AGA in later infancy.

Methods

Associations between W/L indices and fat mass, fat mass index and percent body fat (%BF) obtained via air displacement plethysmography (ADP) were examined in 260 preterm infants (majority born AGA) at 28 to 63 weeks' postmenstrual age (PMA). Accuracy of W/L indices as indicators of adiposity was assessed by proportion of variance explained (R² ) and root mean square error from linear regression of adiposity on W/L indices and proport

SUBMITTER: Nagel E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8026714 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature