A study of growth prediction of low-birth-weight infants

To predict the time required for low-birth-weight (LBW) infants to catch-up with standard weight, the growth curves for weight in 156 LBW infants with no medical abnormalities were examined. The proportion of infants who caught-up with standard weight by 1.5 years of age was significantly higher in appropriate-for-dates (AFD) infants than in small-for-dates (SFD) infants (93% vs. 70%). The age of catch-up with standard weight had a significant inverse correlation with birth weight in AFD infants, and not in SFD infants. The age of catch-up standard weight of AFD infants, as predicted by the regression analysis was 4-8 months for 2,000 g of birth weight, 8-12 months for 1,500 g, and 12-15 months for 1,000 g, with about 80% accuracy. This prediction may be valuable in providing health advice to mothers with LBW infants.