Postnatal growth in preterm infants and later health outcomes: a systematic review

Abstract

In preterm infants, poor postnatal growth is associated with adverse neurocognitive outcomes; conversely, rapid postnatal growth is supposedly harmful for future development of metabolic diseases.

Conclusion: In this systematic review, observational studies reported consistent positive associations between postnatal weight or head growth and neurocognitive outcomes; however, there was limited evidence from the few intervention studies. Evidence linking postnatal weight gain to later adiposity and other cardiovascular disease risk factors in preterm infants was also limited.

Keywords: Feeding; Growth velocity; Health; Postnatal; Preterm newborn.

Figure 1

Flow chart for systematic review of literature on the effects of postnatal growth in preterm infants and later health outcomes.

Figure 2

Gain‐outcome graph of weight gain and cognition. Each row indicates a study result. The label on the vertical axis is the name of the study. Age is on the horizontal axis. The bar in each row codes the period in which weight gain occurred. The half‐open circle indicates the age at which the outcome was measured, and the label describes the type of outcome. The number of children in the study is printed in the bar. A red bar indicates a significant positive association. A grey bar indicates no significant association.

Figure 3

Gain‐outcome graph of head circumference and cognition. Each row indicates a study result. The label on the vertical axis is the name of the study. Age is on the horizontal axis. The bar in each row codes the period in which head circumference growth occurred. The half‐open circle indicates the age at which the outcome was measured, and the label describes the type of outcome. A red bar indicates a significant positive association. A grey bar indicates no significant association.