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Am J Perinatol 1997; 14(9): 523-526
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-994327
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

© 1997 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.

The Risk of Neonatal Death and Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Relation to Birth Weight of Preterm Infants

Tim Chard, Aung Soe, Kate Costeloe
  • Division of Obstetrics, Gynaecology, and Paediatrics, St. Bartholomew's and the Royal London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Homerton Hospital, London E1
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Publication History

Publication Date:
04 March 2008 (online)

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ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to determine the risk of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and neonatal death (NND) in relation to birth weight in preterm neonates. A group of 255 singleton preterm neonates born at 22-36 weeks were examined. The mean birth weight for each gestational week was estimated from a fitted curve. Each birth weight was recalculated as a multiple of the mean. This approach allowed description of a range of birth weight for the whole population of preterm infants. As expected, the incidence of neonatal death and respiratory distress syndrome was higher among the less mature infants. However, there were no significant differences in outcome (NND, severe RDS) between infants whose birth weight was above or below the mean for gestational age, and no excess of “growth retardation” (birth weight below the 5th centile) in babies with NND or RDS. We conclude that, in our population, the risk of RDS and neonatal death does not appear to be related to the birth weight of preterm neonates but is, of course, related to gestational age.

Keywords

Growth retardation - preterm delivery - neonatal death - respiratory distress syndrome - birth weight

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