ABSTRACT
A retrospective review of 1316 neonates who had been evaluated in the Perinatal Laboratory
of my institution during the years 1990 and 1991 was undertaken to study the relationship
between birthweight for gestational age, maternal high-risk factors, and neonatal
ponderal index with neonatal outcome. Patients were stratified as to gestational age
at delivery and the presence of significant congenital abnormalities. Univariant analysis
(chi square or ttest, where appropriate) was done comparing neonatal outcome for neonates that were
or were not small for gestational age (SGA), whose mother did or did not have high-risk
factors, and for infants with normal or abnormal ponderal indices. Multivariant analysis
was also done using logistic regression analysis. In infants without congenital anomalies
delivering at term only the presence of maternal risk factors had prognostic significance,
whereas both maternal risk factors and defining infants as SGA had prognostic value
in infants delivering preterm, especially less than 34 weeks' gestation. Ponderal
index had no significant prognostic value at any gestational age. The data supports
the concept that intrauterine growth retardation as defined as an SGA, low birthweight
for gestational age infant, may be an inaccurate classification for infants delivering
at term, but does have prognostic significance in preterm infants, especially those
less than 34 weeks' gestational age.
Keywords
Birthweight - gestational age - maternal risk factors - ponderal index - neonatal
outcome
