Postnatal growth of small for gestational age late preterm infants: determinants of catch-up growth

BACKGROUND: Failure to recover growth is a risk reported in late preterm population. This study aimed to evaluate the auxological outcome of late preterm infants and identify factors associated with failure to recover growth. METHODS: We enrolled late preterm infants with birth weight ≤10th percentile, followed up at High-Risk Infant Follow-up Service. We collected data at birth and at follow-up visits. A logistic regression analysis was performed to assess variables independently associated with growth failure. RESULTS: The population consisted of 175 preterms. The percentage of children showing no weight recovery was 34% at 36 months. At logistic regression analysis, infants who had not regained weight at 12 months had a higher risk of not regaining weight even at 36 months. The same risk factor was highlighted for length catch-up growth. Moreover, infants fed any human milk at discharge were protected from not achieving both weight and length catch-up growth at 36 months. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that children born late preterm and small for gestational age could fail to recover weight and stature growth in the first 36 months. The protective effect of human milk on failure to thrive highlights the importance of promoting breastfeeding in this population. IMPACT: A significant number of SGA late preterms show a failure to recover weight and statural growth. Having experienced intrauterine growth restriction is associated with a greater chance of achieving statural catch-up growth. Being born singleton represents a risk factor for slower weight and height growth velocity. Breastmilk has a protective effect on failure to recover adequate weight and length in preterm SGA infants. This finding highlights the importance of promoting breastfeeding in this population.