Physical Growth and Current Health Status

Physical Growth and Current Health Status

Introduction: Extremely low birth weight (ELBW) and very low birth weight children are known to experience a significantly higher prevalence of poor physical growth, ill-health, and rehospitalizations during mid-childhood, compared with their peers. A few reports have indicated that these children continue to experience significant health-related moebidity and lower attainment of growth parameters. The physical growth, current health status, and use of health care resources of ELBW children were compared with those of control adolescents. Longitudinal comparisons were made between children aged 8 years and adolescents to determine whether there are changes in growth and key health variable can be observed over time.

Methods: A longitudinal regional cohort investigation eas used to observe ELBW survivors (501-1000 g birth weight) born between 1977 and 1982. Several growth measures were converted to z scores on the National Center for Health Statistics growth curves. Data concerning current health status and health care use were collected during parental interviews.

Results: Of 169 ELBW survivors, 154 (91%) were evaluated and of 145 control subjects, 125 (86%) underwent evaluation. Neurosensory impairments were observed in 28% and 2% of ELBW survivors and control subjects, respectively. The mean z scores for both height and weight were less than 0 for ELBW survivors (weight, -0.35; height, -0.55), compared with their control counterparts (weight, 0.40; height, 0.28). Significant catch-up growth was observed among ELBW survivors between the ages of 8 years and adolescence. Growth remained stable among control subjects. In comparison with control subjects, ELBW survivors had a higher prevalence of visual problems (57% vs 21%), seizures (7% vs 1%), and hyperactivity (9% vs 2%). The ELBW cohort used more specialists and community resources than the control subjects.

Conclusion: Physical growth continues to be compromised, and significant morbidity continues among ELBW survivors at adolescence. Yet, there appears to be some catch-up growth, a decrease in the prevalence of acute health problems, and a reduction in the use of medical resources.