Birthweight percentiles by gestational age in Kuwait

Abstract

Our aim is develop a curve for singleton birthweight based on accurately calculated gestational age. A retrospective analysis of all singleton live births from 22-44 completed weeks of gestation during the period from September 1998 to December 2000 in the two largest birth birth centers in Kuwait was conducted. Neonates with major congenital anomalies and those with unrecorded gestational age were excluded from the study population. Total population and gender-specific birthweight percentiles according to gestational age were developed after smoothening of growth curves. A total of 35768 births were included in the development of the birthweight curve. Percentiles of birthweight for all population and by gender are presented. There was significant difference in birthweight among different ethnic groups in this population. At term, 9.8% of births are smaller than the 10th percentile and 10.0% are larger than the 90th percentile. Plotting birthweight in our population on percentile curves derived from the United States or United Kingdom would generally overestimate small for gestational age newborns and underestimate large for gestational age newborns. We conclude that the diagnosis of clinically significant birthweight abnormalities depends on the fetal growth curve used. A population specific curve of fetal growth dated by ultrasonography would provide a reliable reference for birthweight distribution.

Pregnancy outcome variables and associated factors in different nationalities living in Kuwait

“…However, we did not find a significant difference in birth weight between the nationalities studied, in contrast to previously reported studies on birth weight among various ethnic groups in Kuwait (7,8). Our smaller sample size compared with these studies could have resulted in this lack of statistical significance.…”

“…In addition, differences in birth weights between the main ethnic groups in Kuwait have been reported (7,8). Kuwait is a multiethnic society and two thirds of the population are expatriates of various nationalities.…”

Birth weight for gestational age: A reference study in a tertiary referral hospital in the middle region of Turkey

“…Alexander et al 13 presented data on singleton birth weight 15 and had an intersection between 38 weeks and 39 weeks of gestation. Our curve had variable intersections with the curve developed by Alexander and co-workers.…”

Interpreting Neonatal Growth Parameters in Oman: Are we doing it right?

“…18 There is existing evidence that inhabitants of the Eastern Mediterranean region have lower anthropometric measurements compared to international growth charts, while European individuals tend to have similar or even greater anthropometric measurements. [19][20][21][22][23] In fact, an analysis of the data from each of the six MGRS sites in isolation indicates that Oman and India had the lowest mean values for neonatal birth weight, length and head circumference in comparison to the other sites. 9 As an example to showcase the variability of these measurements, mean values for birth weight, length and head circumference were 3.2 ± 0.4 kg, 49.2 ± 1.7 cm and 33.4 ± 1.0 cm, respectively, among Omani neonates compared to 3.6 ± 0.5 kg, 50.4 ± 1.9 cm and 34.9 ± 1.2 cm, respectively, among Norwegian neonates.…”