SUN-261 Growth Patterns over Two Years after Birth According to the Birth Weight and Length Percentile in Children Born Preterm

Purpose : This study aimed to analyze growth patterns during the first two years after birth according to the birth weight and length percentile in children born preterm, and to investigate factors affecting postnatal growth of these children. Methods : Eighty-two preterm neonates with a gestational age below 37 weeks who followed up until 24 months of corrected age (CA) were retrospectively reviewed. Length, weight and head circumference were measured at birth, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. Data were analyzed between children born small for gestational age (SGA) and those born appropriate for gestational age (AGA). Results : Most preterm infants born SGA grew higher than -2 SDS in length during the first 6 months. Compared to AGA group, SGA group had a low length SDS at 24 months of CA(-0.87±1.11 vs -0.09±1.06, P=0.01). There was no significant difference in the rate of growth failure (length standard deviation score [SDS] <-2 at 24 months of CA) between SGA and AGA group (15.8 % vs 4.3%, P=0.13). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that length below 10(th) percentile at birth (odds ratio [OR], 47.47; 95% CI, 2.02-1117.13, P=0.02) and longer duration of in neonatal intensive care (NICU) (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.01-1.11, P=0.02) were associated with a decrease of length SDS (lower than -1) at 24 months of CA. Conclusion : Whether SGA or not, most of preterm infants grow higher than -2 SDS during first 2 years. Birth length SDS and length velocity are one of the important factors affecting length SDS at 24 moths of CA in children born SGA.