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Am J Perinatol
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1761297
Original Article

Differences When Classifying Small for Gestational Age Preterm Infants According to the Growth Chart Applied

Javier Estañ-Capell 
1   Neonatal Unit, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Valencia, Spain
2   Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
,
Beatriz Alarcón-Torres 
1   Neonatal Unit, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Valencia, Spain
,
Magdalena Miró-Pedro
1   Neonatal Unit, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Valencia, Spain
,
Cecilia Martínez-Costa
2   Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
› Author Affiliations Funding None.
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Abstract

Objective Consensus around the ideal chart to classify preterm babies is scant. It is particularly relevant in small for gestational age (SGA) infants due to its clinical and therapeutic implications. The aim of the study was to compare Olsen, Intergrowth-21st, and Fenton growth charts, regarding the classification at birth and incidence of SGA preterm infants.

Study Design Retrospective study of 529 preterm infants ≤ 32 weeks of gestational age. Birth weight Z-score was calculated applying the three growth charts and ponderal index (PI) was also estimated. Incidence of SGA (birth weight < 10th percentile) and clinical outcome were compared according to the chart used.

Results Incidence of SGA was significantly higher (p < 0.001) with Olsen (101 cases, 19.1%) compared with Intergrowth-21st (75 cases, 14.2%) and Fenton (53 cases, 10%). Differences were also found with PI of SGA preterm infants, as those infants classified by Olsen were mostly symmetric (PI > 10th percentile), while Fenton and Intergrowth-21st identified less symmetric SGA infants. Kappa concordance between Intergrowth-21st and Fenton was 0.805, Intergrowth-21st versus Olsen 0.824, and Fenton versus Olsen 0.641. No differences were observed on neonatal morbidities or mortality.

Conclusion Significant differences were detected when classifying very preterm infants at birth according to the growth chart, mainly among symmetric SGA. Concordance between Fenton and Olsen was poor, but Intergrowth-21st showed high concordance with Fenton and Olsen. However, further research is needed to select the ideal chart. Variability in the population selected to create the curves and the accuracy dating the pregnancy are factors that may have explained differences.

Key Points

  • Very preterm infants are differently classified at birth with various growth charts.

  • Higher incidence of small for gestational age infants with Olsen compared with Fenton or Intergrowth.

  • Variability in population selection and accuracy in dating pregnancy may have explained differences.

Keywords

growth charts - birth weight - preterm infants - small for gestational age

Authors' Contributions

All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.


Ethical Approval

This research involved the use of existing medical records that contain only non-identifiable data about human beings and was approved by the Hospital Ethics Committee.


Supplementary Material



Publication History

Received: 21 January 2022

Accepted: 15 December 2022

Article published online:
29 January 2023

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