Aim:
To compare morbidity and mortality in very low birth weight premature infants (VLBW) with small (SGA) and appropriate (AGA) for gestational age.
Materials and Methods:
The records of infants with VLBW who were followed up in our unit between 2013 and 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. SGA was defined as the birth weight being below the 10th percentile compared to the gestational week and the AGA birth weight being between the 10th and 90th percentile. A total of 96 SGA infants were identified as the study group and 204 AGA infants randomly selected and matched with the gestational week of the study group. Infants with major congenital anomalies and lack of data were excluded from the study.
Results:
The mean gestational age (28.3 ± 1.1–28.3 ± 1.2, p = 0.94) and birth weight (769 ± 144–1132 ± 190 g, <0.001, respectively) were in the SGA and AGA group respectively. Preeclampsia and cesarean delivery were significantly more frequent in the SGA group, whereas APGAR score was lower and CRIB score was significantly higher. The frequency of surfactant requirement, moderate-severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia, spontaneous intestinal perforation, periventricular leukomalacia, premature osteopenia, postnatal growth retardation, mortality and feeding intolerance were found to be significantly higher in SGA infants. Similarly, the duration of invasive ventilation and additional oxygen requirement and hospital stay were longer in SGA infants.
Conclusion:
The birth of premature babies with low birth weight according to gestational age causes premature morbidity and mortality.
Keywords: Small for gestational age, preterm mortality, preterm morbidity