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Ahn, Sohn, and Lee: Growth Patterns of Premature Infants Up to 40th Term Week of Corrected Age
Original Article
Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing

Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing 2011; 41(5): 613-622.

Published online: 31 October 2011

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2011.41.5.613

Growth Patterns of Premature Infants Up to 40th Term Week of Corrected Age

Youngmee Ahn1, Min Sohn1, Sangmi Lee2

1Professor, Department of Nursing, Inha University, Incheon, Korea.

2Doctoral Student, Department of Nursing, Graduate School, Inha University, Incheon, Korea.

Address reprint requests to: Ahn, Youngmee. Department of Nursing, College of Medicine Inha University, 253 Yonghyun-dong, Nam-gu, Incheon 402-751, Korea. Tel: +82-32-860-8207, Fax: +82-32-874-5880, aym@inha.ac.kr

Received 18 December 2010       Accepted 24 October 2011

© 2011 Korean Society of Nursing Science

Abstract

Purpose

Study purpose were to describe growth patterns of premature infants in weight, length and head circumference from birth to 40th week of corrected ages (CA) and to explore factors affecting patterns.

Methods

A longitudinal descriptive study was conducted with 267 premature infants. They were categorized into 2 groups; GA group with measurements at birth and the CA group with measurements at CA, which was categorized into 3 groups (group 1-3) by WHO guideline for gestational age (GA) at birth.

Results

GA group presented greater measures in all than CA group at same week of life. Among CA groups, group 3 showed the highest measurements, up to 37 weeks of life, though this disappeared at 38-40 weeks. Reversely, group 1 revealed the highest growth rates in all measures, followed by group 2 and group 3. Significant interaction was observed in all measures between week of life and any type of groups.

Conclusion

Higher measures in GA group, as well group 3 among CA groups, supported the superiority of intra-uterine environment overriding quality of regimen from NICU. Regardless of growth acceleration, smaller infants remain smaller, indicating that intra-uterine thrifty phenotype may continue at least up to the 40th week of CA.

Keywords: Premature infants, Gestational age, Growth, Body weights and measures

Figures and Tables

Figure 1
Variations in mean body weight by corrected age and mother/child characteristics.
jkan-41-613-g001
Figure 2
Variations in mean body length by corrected age and mother/child characteristics.
jkan-41-613-g002
Table 1
Weight and related Growth Rate of the Infants by Week of Life (N=267)
jkan-41-613-i001

SD=Standard deviation; NA=Not applicable; GA=Gestational age; CA=Corrected age.

Table 2
Body Length and related Growth Rate of the Infants by Week of Life (N=267)
jkan-41-613-i002

SD=Standard deviation; NA=Not applicable; GA=Gestational age; CA=Corrected age.

Table 3
Head Circumference (HC) and related Growth Rate of the Infants by Week of Life (N=267)
jkan-41-613-i003

SD=Standard deviation; NA=Not applicable; GA=Gestational age; CA=Corrected age.

Table 4
Differences in Weight, Length and Head Circumference (HC) by Conditions at Birth
jkan-41-613-i004

SD=Standard deviation; GA=Gestational age.

Notes

This work was supported by a Korea Research Foundation Grant funded by the Korean Government (MOEHRD, Basic Research Promotion Fund) (KRF-2008-531-E00087).

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