Use of Head and Chest Circumference Ratio as an Index of Fetal Growth Retardation in Preterm Infants

Hiromichi Shoji; Yayoi Murano; Yukika Saitoh; Naho Ikeda; Natsuki Ohkawa; Naoto Nishizaki; Ken Hisata; Masato Kantake; Kaoru Obinata; Daisuke Yoneoka; Toshiaki Shimizu

doi:10.3390/nu14224942

Nutrients (Nov 2022)

Use of Head and Chest Circumference Ratio as an Index of Fetal Growth Retardation in Preterm Infants

Hiromichi Shoji,
Yayoi Murano,
Yukika Saitoh,
Naho Ikeda,
Natsuki Ohkawa,
Naoto Nishizaki,
Ken Hisata,
Masato Kantake,
Kaoru Obinata,
Daisuke Yoneoka,
Toshiaki Shimizu

Affiliations

Hiromichi Shoji: Department of Pediatrics, Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
Yayoi Murano: Department of Pediatrics, Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
Yukika Saitoh: Department of Pediatrics, Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
Naho Ikeda: Department of Pediatrics, Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
Natsuki Ohkawa: Department of Neonatology, Juntendo University Shizuoka Hospital, 1129 Nagaoka, Izunokuni-shi, Shizuoka 410-2295, Japan
Naoto Nishizaki: Department of Pediatrics, Juntendo University Urayasu Hospital, 2-1-1 Tomioka, Urayasu-shi, Chiba 279-0021, Japan
Ken Hisata: Department of Pediatrics, Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
Masato Kantake: Department of Neonatology, Juntendo University Nerima Hospital, 3-1-10 Koyadai, Nerima-ku, Tokyo 177-8521, Japan
Kaoru Obinata: Department of Pediatrics, Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
Daisuke Yoneoka: Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Graduate School of Public Health St. Luke’s International University, 10-1 Akashi-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0044, Japan
Toshiaki Shimizu: Department of Pediatrics, Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14224942
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 14, no. 22
p. 4942

Abstract

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We evaluated the relationship between fetal growth in preterm babies using the head circumference (HC)/chest circumference (CC) ratio and other anthropometric parameters at birth and at school age. Data were collected from 187 very low birth weight (VLBW) children born at less than 30 weeks of gestational age (GA) at birth and at 6 years. We assessed the correlation between the HC/CC ratio and body weight (BW), body length (BL), and HC z-scores at birth, and BW, body height (BH), and body mass index (BMI) z-scores at 6 years. Multiple regression analysis showed that BW z-score, BL z-score, and HC z-score at birth were significantly associated with HC/CC at birth. The BMI z-score at 6 years was also significantly associated with HC/CC at birth. The HC/CC ratio at birth is a reliable parameter for evaluating fetal growth restriction and a possible predictor of physical growth in VLBW children.

Published in Nutrients

ISSN: 2072-6643 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Technology: Home economics: Nutrition. Foods and food supply
Website: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/nutrients

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