OBJECTIVE: Analyze the growth of intrauterine growth restricted (IUGR) preterm newborns infants (PTNB) from birth until hospital discharge. METHODS: Cohort study of PTNB from single gestations with gestational age of 30 to 34 weeks, Apgar score at five minutes >6, without perinatal infectious risk and/or malformations. Patients were divided into two groups. Group I: PTNB with IUGR (Kramer index: birth weight/weight at 50th percentile <0,85); Group II: PTNB without IUGR. Weight (W), length (L), head circumference (HC) and body mass index (BMI) were evaluated at birth and at 40 weeks corrected GA or discharge. Statistical analysis included Student t test paired t test, chi-square test, Pearson's correlation and linear regression, being significant p<0.05. RESULTS: At birth, anthropometric significant differences (p<0.0001) were seen between the 24 Group I PTNB (W=1192g, L=37.7cm, HC=26.9cm) and the 27 Group II infants (W=2081g, L=43.2cm, HC=30.9cm). At discharge, Group II PTNB were heavier (p=0.03), but L, HC and BMI were similar between groups. From birth until discharge, the W, L and HC increased in both groups. BMI increased from birth to discharge only in Group I (p<0.0001), with a negative correlation between BMI at birth and the BMI difference between birth and discharge (r=-0.79; p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: IUGR at birth was associated to significant BMI increase until discharge, which was inversely correlated to birth BMI, suggesting a higher risk of future obesity in these infants if this trend persists throughout infancy and childhood.
infant nutrition; infant, newborn; fetal growth retardation
