Anthropometric measurements in a newborn population in west Africa: a reliable and simple tool for the identification of infants at risk for early postnatal morbidity

The predictive value of anthropometric measurements in the identification of infants at risk for early postnatal morbidity was assessed in a cohort of 490 neonates born in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Mid-arm circumference (MAC), head circumference, weight, and length were measured within 6 hours of birth, and the gestational age, individual MAC/head circumference ratio, and individual ponderal index were calculated. A detailed questionnaire on gestational medical history was also obtained from the mothers. All infants were then closely monitored during the first 72 hours after delivery for the appearance of symptoms requiring medical intervention and treated accordingly. Low birth weight (LBW) was observed in 37.75%, prematurity in 25.5%, and small size for gestational age in 14.1% of the neonates. Gestational medical problems were reported by 44.3% of the mothers; malaria was the most frequent. Early postnatal morbidity was observed in 26% of the infants; infection (53%), respiratory distress (26%), hypoglycemia (26%), and convulsions (11.7%) accounted for most of the problems. The MAC correlated best of all variables with birth weight (r = 0.91); a value of less than or equal to 9.5 cm had a 93% sensitivity and a 90.5% specificity in the prediction of LBW. An MAC cutoff value of less than or equal to 9.5 cm was also the best of all variables in the prediction of early postnatal morbidity, and 85.2% sensitivity and 74.3% specificity were achieved. We conclude that in developing countries, where scales are not always available and the overburdened maternity wards cannot allow for medical surveillance of every infant, the MAC can be used in the estimation of birth weight. Moreover, an appropriately calculated cutoff value of MAC may serve as a reliable indicator of LBW and of infants at risk for early postnatal morbidity.     

Distance and velocity standards for head circimference growth before and after term until 18 months--results from a longitudinal study (author's transl)]

Standards for head circumference growth (distance and velocity) from the perinatal period until the age of 18 months have been based on repeated measurements at short intervals (longitudinal) in 60 appropriate for gestational age (AGA) preterm infants of very low fetal age, and 68 full term infants. Moreover the growth of 32 small for gestational age (SGA) preterm infants has been evaluated. Before term the extrauterine head growth curve is similar to that of "intrauterine curves". At term and until the age of 18 months the growth curves of AGA preterm infants agree well with those of the full term controls, without statistically significant differences (p greater than 0.1). If the age is not corrected for prematurity ther is a significant difference between preterm and full term infants until 17 months (p less than 0.05). With decreasing velocity of head circumference growth this difference becomes non-significant at the age of 18 months (p greater than 0.1). Out of the heterogenious group of 32 SGA preterm infants 15 have shown a catch-up growth in head circumference until the third month, whereas 17 infants remained significantly below the growth curve of the AGA. Growth velocity of head circumference, calculated in cm/month, in the last 10 weeks before term is significantly higher (p less 0.025) than later on, with a mean peak of 4.3 cm in the 34th postmentstrual week. After term, the velocity curve of the AGA preterm infants agrees with that of the full term controls. A period of rapid head circumference growth -- a growth spurt -- extends from the 31st postmenstrual week until the 6th month after term. In the following months the velocity curves flatten. If the age is not corrected for prematurity, the peak of the velocity curve becomes flat and spread with a mean growth velocity of 3.0 cm in the first, of 3.4 cm in the second and of 2.5 cm in the third month.     

STUDIES ON MATURITY IN NEWBORN INFANTS

Five anthropometric measurements, birth weight, crown-heel length, head circumference, occipito-frontal diameter, and bi-parietal diameter were recorded in a group of 174 newborn infants of various gestational ages. The material was selected to contain a relatively large number of infants with extreme birth weights and/or gestational ages. Head circumference was better correlated to gestational age than were the other four measurements. Birth weight and crown-heel length had the same degree of correlation to gestational age. The two skull diameters showed significantly lower correlations to gestational age. The confidence limits for estimating gestational age on the basis of the mean value for head circumference were ±26.1 days in this material. In SGA infants, crown-heel length and head circumference were not significantly greater than in pre-term infants of the same birth weight.     

Penile dimensions of newborn infants

Of 336 full-term, newborn male infants, penile diameter, length, and volume of the testis were measured. All of the infants were Indonesians. The penile stretched length was 2.86 +/- 0.23 cm and the diameter 0.82 +/- 0.33 cm. There was statistically a significant correlation between penile length and gestational age (p less than 0.01), but no significant correlation between penile length and testicular volume, body length, body weight, or head circumference.     

宫外生长迟缓早产儿出院后不同营养策略对体格及神经发育的近期影响

目的 对比分析宫外生长迟缓(extrauterine growth restriction,EUGR)早产儿出院后不同的强化营养策略对其生后1～6校正月龄体重、身长、头围等体格生长及神经发育指标的影响,为进一步寻找优化EUGR早产儿出院后的营养方案提供依据.方法 收集连云港市第一人民医院新生儿重症监护病房2016年1月...     

Anthropometric parameters of Zambian infants at birth

Mean, standard deviations, and percentile values for weight, length, head, chest, and mid-arm circumferences were calculated by measuring 2353 'normal' singleton babies born at University Teaching Hospital (UTH), Lusaka, Zambia. The mean values were as follows: birth weight 3.08 +/- 0.40 kg; crown-heel length 48.57 +/- 2.53 cm; head circumference 34.55 +/- 1.57 cm; chest circumference 32.14 +/- 1.92 cm; and mid-arm circumference 10.68 +/- 0.96 cm. Physical measurements increased with increase in gestational age up to 42 weeks and male babies were larger than their female counterparts.     

The relationship in neonates between clinically measured head circumference and brain volume estimated from head CT-scans.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if the frontal-occipital head circumference correlates with brain volume on CT and to investigate correlations between the volumes of different brain subdivisions in live neonates. METHODS: Records were studied from 27 neonates with anatomically normal head CT-scans which were ordered for clinical reasons, and which were performed at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Clinical data were abstracted from medical records. Brain volumes were estimated by digitizing the structures of interest on each slice of head CT-scans. RESULTS: In this sample of 27 infants with a mean birth weight of 3000.4 +/- 668 g, mean head circumference of 33.5 +/- 1.8 cm, and mean gestational age of 37 weeks and 4 days +/- 24 days, the mean of total brain volume was 333.0 +/- 78.3 ml. The correlation between clinically measured head circumference and total brain volume was 0.55 (P < 0.003). Regression of total brain volume on head circumference and its second and third powers accounted for 43% of the variation in total brain volume. Other predictor variables, namely infant race, sex, gestational age, and maternal age, were not significant in this regression once head circumference was included. The slope of the cubic function of head circumference as a predictor of brain volume was greatest below the mean head circumference of 33.5 cm. Brain volume leveled off at head circumferences greater than the mean. CONCLUSION: Head circumference is a powerful predictor of total brain volume in the neonate: below the approximate head-circumference mean of 33.5 cm, smaller head circumference indicates smaller total brain volume.     

早产适于胎龄儿婴儿期追赶生长特点和2至3岁生长偏离的队列研究

目的 分析早产适于胎龄儿婴儿期追赶生长特点和2～3岁生长偏离情况。 方法 以队列研究设计实验方案。选择成都市妇女儿童中心医院（我院）出生的无明显疾病状态的早产儿,生后行单纯早产儿出院后配方粉喂养至达到WHO儿童生长发育标准身长别体重的P50水平后,转换为足月儿配方粉喂养至12月龄; 9月龄前每月和12月龄行体格测量和喂养指导。随访至2～3岁并行体格测量,与2006年 WHO（简称WHO）和2005年中国九市城区（简称中国九市城区）标准的足月儿增长 值比较。 结果 符合本文纳入标准早产儿165例,达到WHO儿童生长发育标准P50水平后转换为任意品牌足月儿配方粉喂养,并于2～3岁均来我院随访,其中122例早产儿规律地完成了1~9月龄和12月龄的体格测量和喂养指导,43例未规律随访和接受喂养指导。早产儿男婴体重和身长与WHO标准差异有统计学意义,与中国九市城区标准头围差异有统计学意义。早产儿女婴体重与WHO标准差异有统计学意义。早产儿女婴头围与中国九市城区标准差异有统计学意义。早产儿男女婴儿各月龄体重、身长和头围的增长值差异无统计学意义。早产儿男女婴儿每月体重、身长和头围增长不符合足月儿生长规律。规律随访的婴儿至2～3岁均无生长偏离,未规律随访和接受喂养指导的婴儿至2～3岁,基于WHO标准出现生长偏离为54%（23/43）, 基于中国九市城区标准出现生长偏离为98%（42/43）,均以超重危险和超重为主。 结论 早产儿的追赶生长不遵从足月儿规律,早产儿追赶生长现象贯穿于0~12月龄,婴儿期个体化喂养指导是幼儿期生长偏离的影响因素。与WHO标准相比采用中国九市城区BMI标准将升高超重危险和超重儿童的筛出率。     

Extrauterine growth restriction in preterm infants of gestational age < or =32 weeks

BACKGROUND: Extrauterine growth restriction (EUGR) in low-birthweight (LBW) infants affects their growth and developmental prognoses as well as their incidence of adult diseases. The aim of the present paper was to determine the frequency and contributing factors of EUGR in infants > or =32 weeks of gestational age. METHODS: The subjects consisted of 416 infants from 22 facilities born between February and October 2002, whose gestational age was > or =32 weeks. For EUGR assessment, subjects whose body measurements in the 37-42 week postmenstrual age (PMA) period were below the 10th percentile of the standard normal distribution, were selected. RESULTS: EUGR incidence rates for weight, length, and head circumference were 57%, 49%, and 6%. In appropriate-for-gestational-age infants, a negative correlation was found between number of gestational weeks and EUGR incidence rates for weight, length, and head circumference, but in small-for-gestational-age infants this was true only for head circumference. Lower gestational age and age in days to achieve complete feeding were among the shared factors contributing to EUGR incidence for weight, length, and head circumference. The significant factors for EUGR incidence for weight and length included whether the infant was small for gestational age, whether oxygen was administered at 36 weeks PMA, age in days at which breast-feeding was initiated, and age in days when the infant regained birthweight. CONCLUSIONS: The growth retardation of preterm LBW infants in the neonatal intensive care unit continues to pose challenges. Relevant factors other than gestational age include intrauterine growth restriction, severe chronic lung disease, and poor nutrition.     

Midarm head circumference ratio in the assessment of protein-energy malnutrition

Based on midarm/head circumference ratio, of 350 children below 5 years of age in Sindhi Colony, Raja Park, Jaipur, 43.7 per cent were nutritionally healthy, 53.7 per cent had mild to moderate mainutrition and 2.6 per cent were severely malnourished (ratio less than 0.25). Comparision of Harvard weight for age standards and midarm/ head circumference ratio revealed the latter method to have a sensitivity of 71.6 per cent and specificity of 76.6 per cent.     

深圳16887例胎龄27～42周新生儿宫内生长体重、身长、头围、胸围、顶臀长曲线

目的制定深圳新生儿宫内生长曲线,了解深圳新生儿宫内生长水平。方法采用横断面时间段整群取样调查方法,于2013年4月至2015年9月在深圳市两家医院完成了胎龄27~42周活产单胎新生儿16 887例(男9418例,女7469例)现场调查。体重、身长、头围、胸围、顶臀长5项指标曲线拟合应用Lambda Mu Sigma(LMS)法。结果制定了深圳胎龄27~42周新生儿(男、女、性别混合)三分组体重、身长、头围、胸围、顶臀长5项指标宫内生长第3~97百分位曲线。上述5项曲线男性明显高于女性。该组新生儿体重曲线形态及变化趋势与中国新生儿协作网曲线基本一致。结论该研究制定的深圳胎龄27~42周新生儿体重、身长、头围、胸围、顶臀长宫内生长百分位曲线可为新生儿科医生临床实践工作提供参考。     

13776例不同胎龄正常足月儿身长胸围指数研究

目的获得不同胎龄正常足月儿身长胸围指数。方法采用横断面时间段整群取样现场调查方法,于2013—2015年完成16 388例不同胎龄新生儿的体质量、身长、顶臀长、头围、胸围的现场测量,用以制定不同胎龄正常足月儿身长胸围指数。结果最终获得正常足月儿13 776例的测量数据。随着胎龄增加,新生儿出生时身长胸围指数(BCI)、维尔维克指数(VI)、艾里斯曼指数(EI)均有所递增。男婴BCI、VI、EI小于女婴,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。2015年的新生儿BCI、VI、EI与2005年有一定的差异。结论不同胎龄正常足月儿随胎龄增大胸廓丰满度不断提高,男性低于女性,本次数据与十年前相比有一定的差异。     

An anthropometric study of the newborn in Varanasi

Summary and Conclusions The mean birth weight of the sample was 2493.6 G. (S.D.=579.81) and the prematurity rate was 54.6%. The mean placental weight was 303.6 G. (S.D.=109.05) and it correlated with the birth weight. The average figure for the birth length was 48.75 cm. (S.D.=2.74), for the head circumference 33.15 cm. (S.D.=1.75), for the chest circumference 30.25 cm. (S.D.=2.11) for the biacromial diameter 11.27 cm. (S.D.=11.83 and for the bi-iliac diameter 7.74 cm. (S.D.=0.91). All these indices showed a positive correlation with birth weight and also with each other. The mean period of gestation for the series was 272.5 days (S.D.=13.45) and this variable showed a high positive correlation with birth weight. From the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, College of Medical Sciences, Varanasl, 5.     

84例早产适于胎龄儿第一年体格追赶生长纵向评估

目的：分析早产适于胎龄儿1岁以内的追赶生长特点,探讨其追赶生长规律。方法：选择84名胎龄28～36周的早产适于胎龄儿（男44例,女40例）作为研究对象,对其0～12月内的体重、身长及头围分别按实际月龄足月儿生长标准和纠正月龄标准进行Z评分评估并分析。结果：早产适于胎龄儿1岁内体重、身长和头围均出现追赶性生长,且增长最快的阶段均在实际月龄0～3月,体重追赶速度优于身长追赶速度。结论：生后前3个月是早产适于胎龄儿的快速生长期;体重与身长的变化存在不平衡性。     

Low‐birthweight rates higher among Bangladeshi neonates measured during active birth surveillance compared to national survey data

Birth size is an important gauge of fetal and neonatal health. Birth size measurements were collected within 72 h of life for 16 290 live born, singleton infants in rural Bangladesh from 2004 to 2007. Gestational age was calculated based on the date of last menstrual period. Newborns were classified as small‐for‐gestational age (SGA) based on a birthweight below the 10th percentile for gestational age, using three sets of US reference data. Birth size distributions were explored based on raw values as well as after z‐score standardisation in reference to World Health Organization (WHO) 2006 growth standards. Mean (SD) birthweight (g), length (cm) and head circumference (cm) measurements, completed within [median (25th, 75th percentile)] 15 (8, 23) h of life, were 2433 (425), 46.4 (2.4) and 32.4 (1.6), respectively. Twenty‐two per cent were born preterm. Over one‐half (55.3%) of infants were born low birthweight; 46.6%, 37.0% and 33.6% had a weight, length and head circumference below ?2 z‐scores of the WHO growth standard at birth; and 70.9%, 72.2% and 59.8% were SGA for weight based on Alexander et al., Oken et al. and Olsen et al. references, respectively. Infants in this typical rural Bangladesh setting were commonly born small, reflecting a high burden of fetal growth restriction and preterm birth. Our findings, produced by active birth surveillance, suggest that low birthweight is far more common than suggested by cross‐sectional survey estimates. Interventions that improve fetal growth during pregnancy may have the largest impact on reducing SGA rates.     

胎龄27~40周双胎新生儿宫内生长状况研究

目的 制定双胎新生儿宫内生长曲线,研究双胎儿宫内生长状况。方法 采用横断面时间段整群取样实况调查方法,于2013年4月至2015年9月在深圳市两家医院完成了1 296例活产双胎新生儿体格生长现场测量,体重、身长、头围、胸围、顶臀长5项指标曲线拟合应用Lambda-Mu-Sigma（LMS）法。结果 获得了1 296例胎龄27~40周双胎新生儿出生体重、身长、头围、胸围、顶臀长5项指标宫内生长均值及其第3~97百分位曲线;该1 296例双胎新生儿出生体重、身长、头围、胸围、顶臀长5项曲线均低于既往报道的深圳单胎新生儿5项曲线;胎龄越小二者差异值越小,胎龄越大二者差异值越大。结论 该研究获得的深圳胎龄27~40周双胎新生儿体重、身长、头围、胸围、顶臀长宫内生长曲线可作为评估深圳当前人口群体双胎儿宫内生长状况的参考。     

乌鲁木齐市5 027例新生儿体格发育调查

目的 调查乌鲁木齐市维吾尔族（简称维族）与汉族新生儿出生体格发育状况。方法 连续测量2014年12月至2017年5月新疆医科大学第一附属医院及妇幼保健院出生的28~42周的单胎活产儿出生体重、身长、头围、胸围,采用一元三次方的曲线拟合方法绘制出生体重、身长、胸围及头围的相关平滑曲线。结果 共纳入胎龄28~42周单胎新生儿5 027名,其中男婴2 625名,女婴2 402名。获得了维族和汉族胎龄28~42周男女新生儿出生体重、身长、胸围、头围及克托莱指数和维尔维克指数的均值,并制定了其百分位平滑曲线。维汉两民族新生儿间部分生长发育指标测量值存在差异。维族与汉族新生儿克托莱及维尔维克指数均随着胎龄增加呈相应增加的趋势,其中维族新生儿维尔维克指数大于汉族。结论 乌鲁木齐维汉两民族新生儿间部分生长发育指标水平及维尔维克指数存在差异。该研究获得的维族和汉族胎龄28~42周男女新生儿出生体重、身长、胸围、头围及克托莱指数和维尔维克指数的均值及其百分位平滑曲线可为乌鲁木齐市新生儿生长发育的评估提供参考。     

HEAD CIRCUMFERENCE, LENGTH AND PLACENTAL WEIGHT OF INFANTS IN AN AUSTRALIAN HOSPITAL POPULATION

The published standards for head circumference, length and placental weight of infants at various gestations are not necessarily applicable to Australian patients. The difficulties and errors in data collection are discussed. Charts of head circumference and length of infants between 26 and 44 weeks of gestation are given in the familiar percentile form and also a similar chart of placental weight from 24 to 44 weeks of gestational age.     

Children of alcoholic mothers. Growth and motor performance compared to matched controls

Twenty-one children born 1970-76, selected from 103 children of 30 alcoholic women, were paired to controls matched for sex, age, birth weight and gestational age. The sample (10 girls, 11 boys) was representative of the whole group with regard to weight, length and head circumference at birth. At follow-up (mean age 70 months) the study group was significantly leaner, shorter and had smaller mean head circumference than the control group. The controls had significant catch-up growth from birth to follow-up of weight, height and head circumference to the mean for Swedish children. The study group had no catch-up growth. Compared to controls the study group had significantly lower fine and gross motor age test scores and inferior coordination. One child had cerebral palsy (spastic hemiplegia) and in 6 other children slight tremor and ataxia were observed. Malformations and/or other signs of the fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) were found in 10 cases. Study group children with FAS had significantly slower growth of head circumference than others without FAS. Children placed in foster home care (n = 11) were found to have significantly (p less than 0.05) lower birth weight, birth length and head circumference than children raised at home (n = 10). There were no significant differences at follow up between study group children raised in foster homes or in homes of their biological mother.     

Neurosensory outcome and growth at three years in extremely low birthweight infants: follow-up results from the Swedish national prospective study

A prospective national investigation comprising 633 extremely low birthweight (ELBW) infants born alive in the 2-y period 1990-1992 with a birthweight of ≤1000 g and gestational age of ≥23 completed weeks was conducted regarding neurosensory outcome and growth. Three-hundred and sixty-two (98%) surviving ELBW infants were assessed at a median age of 36 months, using a specially designed protocol. At follow-up, mean height, weight and head circumference in both boys and girls were significantly lower than the reference values. The incidence of cerebral palsy was 7% among all children and 14%, 10% and 3% in children born at 23-24, 25-26 and ≥27 gestational weeks, respectively. At least one obvious handicap was present in 14%, 9% and 3% of these three groups of children, respectively. After adjustment for gestational age, a significantly increased risk of handicap was found in children with intraventricular haemorrhage grade ≥3 and/or periventricular leucomalacia and in children with retinopathy of prematurity stage ≥3. The results show that more than 90% of ELBW children born at ≥25 completed gestational weeks were without neurosensory handicap at 36 months of corrected age. In infants born at 23-24 weeks of gestation, both survival and long-term outcome were less favourable.