Assessment of catch-up growth in low birthweight babies in a tertiary care center of Tamil Nadu: A longitudinal study

Abstract

Background: Low birthweight (LBW) is a critical health issue which accounts for nearly 50% of all perinatal deaths and associated with short- and long-term consequences. An understanding of the catch-up growth potential pattern of LBW babies is important which can give a hint for changes in current practice. Aim and Objectives: The aims of this study were to assess and compare the physical growth profile of various categories of LBW babies admitted in neonatal intensive care unit between January 2020 to march 2020 of a tertiary care center and to study factors associated with decreased growth profile of LBW babies. Materials and Methods: It was a longitudinal study involving 280 LBW babies. Assessment was done at corrected gestational age of 40 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, and 18 months of age. Weight, length, and head circumference were measured. Chi-square test was used as test of significance. P < 0.05 was taken as significant. Results: About 72.5% of the LBW babies attained catch-up growth by 18 months. Preterm small for gestational age (SGA) has significant percentage of babies (53.4%) not attaining the catch-up growth. Babies who were breastfed (80%) exclusively had better catch-up growth compared to formula fed (4.8%). Conclusion: Preterm appropriate for gestational age had attained maximum catch-up growth followed by term SGA and preterm SGA which is least. Maternal breastfeeding and early initiation of complementary feeding had significant influence in postnatal growth. Mother’s educational status, maternal complications, and neonatal complications had no influence in postnatal catch-up growth.