Nutrition status of premature infants in the neonatal intensive care unit and risk factors of extrauterine growth retardation / 中国当代儿科杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the nutrition status of premature infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and risk factors of extrauterine growth retardation (EUGR).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of 110 premature infants who were admitted to the NICU from August 2007 to September 2008 were retrospectively reviewed. The possible factors influencing the nutrition status were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The incidence of EUGR was 53.6% (59/110), 31.8% (35/110) and 10.0% (11/110) by weight, length and head circumference respectively among the premature infants. The risk factors of EUGR included small-for-gestational-age (SGA), low birth weight, low speed of weight gain during hospitalization, large extent of physiological weight loss, long time to reach oral calorie goal, and maternal complications.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The nutrition status and physical development are not desirable in premature infants hospitalized in the NICU. Therefore, reasonable nutritional support and proactive control of risk factors are important strategies to improve the perinatal nutrition and long-term prognosis.</p>