Effect of Short-Term Morbidities, Risk Factors and Rate of Growth Failure in Very Low Birth Weight Preterms at Discharge

Background: Very low birth weight (VLBW) infants often demonstrate postnatal growth failure (PGF). We aimed to analyze incidence and risk factors for PGF in surviving VLBW infants hospitalized more than 28 days. Materials and Methods: Fenton growth chart (2013) was used for Z-scores for birth weight (BW) and discharge weight. Infants with a decrease in their Z-scores at discharge >1 were considered as 'PGF group' and with a decrease >2 were considered as 'severe PGF group'. Results: One hundred and forty-one of 148 (95.3%) infants had PGF, 88 of 141 (62.4%) had severe PGF. There were significant differences in gestational age, birth and discharge weight, and days to regain BW, age of first and full enteral feeding, duration of parenteral nutrition, lipid emulsions, intubation and hospitalization between groups (p<0.05). Vasopressor treatment, nosocomial infection, patent ductus arteriosus and bronchopulmonary dysplasia rates were significantly higher in severe PGF group (p<0.05). Conclusion: PGF remains a serious problem in our unit. All VLBW preterm infants should be followed for PGF.