A Survey on General Characteristics and Feeding Methods of the Premature Infants

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to provide basic data for the medical nutrition therapy of premature infants. The general characteristics, presence of metabolic disorders, hematological profile and feeding methods were compared between the premature infant group (<37 weeks, n=61) and the full-term infant group (37~42 weeks, n=165). Birth weight (p<0.0001), birth length (p<0.005), head circumference (p<0.0001), chest circumference (p<0.0001), and Apgar scores (p<0.0001) of the neonates were all statistically lower in the premature infant group. Jaundice cases (p<0.0001) were statistically higher in the premature infant group. White blood cell counts (WBC p<0.005), mean corpuscular volume (MCV p<0001), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH p<0.005), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC p<0.005), and mean platelet volume (MPV p<0.05) were statistically lower in the premature infant group. The premature infant group were fed a higher rate of premature formula than breast milk and the full-term infant group were fed a high rate of human milk at a higher rate, showing differences in kinds of feeding methods (p<0.0001) between the two groups. An infant's birth weight showed a significantly positive correlation with the infant's birth length (p<0.0001), head circumference (p<0.0001), chest circumference (p<0.0001), and Apgar scores(p<0.0001). The birth length also showed a significantly positive correlation with both head circumference (p<0.05) and chest circumference (p<0.05). Head circumference showed a significantly positive correlation with chest circumference (p<0.0001) and Apgar scores (p<0.0001). Chest circumference showed a significantly positive correlation with Apgar scores (p<0.0001). In addition, the Apgar Score at of 1 minute after birth showed a significantly positive correlation with the Apgar score at of 5 minute after birth (p<0.0001).