ABSTRACT
Post-discharge nutrition of preterm newborns must avoid excessive or insufficient weight gain and optimal length and head circumference growth. In Chile, premature infants less than 32 wee ks at birth receive fortified formulas during the first year, unless they are exclusively breastfed. OBJECTIVE: To describe growth and identify the risk of malnutrition at 24 months. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Retrospective cohort study that analyzes growth from birth to 2 years of corrected age in preterm patients < 32 weeks of gestational age. Z-score of weight, length, head circumference, and Body Mass Index (BMI) were analyzed. Factors related to Z BMI at 24 months were analyzed as follows: Eutrophic: Z BMI between -1 and +1; Overweight: Z BMI > +1; Underweight: Z BMI < -1. RESULTS: 996 preterm infants were included, 559 completed check-ups at 24 months. 64.5% were eutrophic, 18.4% overweight, and 17.1% underweight. Multivariate analysis showed that risk of overweight was associated with birth weight > 1460 g: OR 5.77 (2.11-15.77) and Z BMI > 1.6 at 6 months: OR 2.67 (1.91-3.74); underweight risk was associated with birth weight < 1000g: OR 3.1 (1.1-8.8) and Z BMI < -0.75 at 6 months: OR 8.2 (4.3-16.3). CONCLUSIONS: The greater risk of overweight and underweight can be anticipated in premature infants under 32 weeks with birth weight or Z BMI at 6 months of corrected age.
