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. 2015 Sep 24;10(9):e0139014.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0139014. eCollection 2015.

Weight Growth Velocity and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants

Hidehiko Maruyama  1 , Naohiro Yonemoto  2 , Yumi Kono  3 , Satoshi Kusuda  4 , Masanori Fujimura  5 ; Neonatal Research Network of Japan
Collaborators, Affiliations

Weight Growth Velocity and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants

Hidehiko Maruyama et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed to assess whether weight growth velocity (WGV) predicts neurodevelopmental outcomes in extremely low birth weight infants (ELBWIs).

Methods: Subjects were infants who weighed 501-1000 g at birth and were included in the cohort of the Neonatal Research Network of Japan (2003-2007). Patel's exponential model (EM) method was used to calculate WGV between birth and discharge. Assessment of predictions of death or neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) was performed at 3 years of age based on the WGV score, which was categorized by per one increase in WGV. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals (95%CI).

Results: In the 2961 ELBWIs assessed, the median WGV was 10.5 g/kg/day (interquartile, 9.4-11.9). With the categorical approach, the adjusted odds ratios for death or NDI with WGV scores of 6 and 7 were 2.41 (95%CI, 1.60-3.62) and 1.81 (95%CI, 1.18-2.75), respectively, relative to the reference WGV score of 10. WGV scores ≥8 did not predict death or NDI.

Conclusions: WGV scores <8 were significant predictors suggesting that values of WGV during hospitalization in a NICU are associated with neurodevelopmental outcomes. Further investigations is necessary to determine whether additional nutritional support may improve low WGV in ELBWIs.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Study flowchart.
Analyzed data (n = 2961) were obtained from the Neonatal Research Network of Japan 2003–2007 database.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Histogram of weight growth velocity (WGV) scores.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Relationship between weight growth velocity (WGV) scores 6–14 and their adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
WGV scores 6 and 7 predicted death or NDI at 3 years of age.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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