“…Information was collected about antenatal history: maternal age, hypertensive disease of pregnancy, placental diseases (placental abruption, placenta praevia), preterm prelabor rupture of membranes, threatened preterm labor, diabetes, antenatal steroids administration, singleton or multiple pregnancy, clinical chorioamnionitis and mode of delivery. The following data about birth and postnatal diseases were also collected: GA, BW, gender, appropriateness of BW for GA (according to reference Hadlock FP et al 13 ), transfer after birth (outborn), 1 min Apgar score, anemia at birth (venous hemoglobin <13.3 g dl À1 at the admission in NICU), 14 early onset sepsis (EOS), respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) requiring surfactant, acute renal failure, 15 hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus, late onset sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. The GA in completed weeks was assessed on the basis of the mother's last menstrual period, and confirmed or modified when necessary by routine early antenatal ultrasound examination.…”