Effect of intrahospital growth rate on somatometric measurements at 2 years old in children with a birth weight of less than 1500 grams

Objective. To determine the association between intrahospital growth rate (GR) and breast milk fortification and somatometry, and risk for death after discharge or severe disability at 2 years of corrected age (CA). Population and method. Retrospective analysis of GR and subsequent course. Infants born in the 1990-2015 period with a birth weight < 1500 g were included. Infants with diseases affecting growth were excluded. An overall cohort and 2 sub-cohorts were studied: infants born in the 1990-2001 period (without fortification) and 2002-2015 period (with fortification). The GR was estimated and deemed adequate if > 12 g/kg/day. Results. A total of 1194 patients were recruited. An adequate GR was associated with a higher median weight at 2 years of CA in the overall cohort (11 400 g [10 300-12 500] versus 11 000 g [10 000-12 140], p = 0.02). The 2002-2015 cohort reached a higher mean height (86.42 +/- 4.03 cm versus 85.56 +/- 4.01, p = 0.02). More preterm infants caught-up growth at 2 years of CA in the overall cohort with an adequate GR (62.50 % versus 34.69 %, p < 0.02). No differences were observed in the risk for death after discharge or severe disability at 2 years of CA with an adequate GR (OR: 0.79; 95 % confidence interval: 0.47-1.12). Conclusions. An adequate GR was associated with improved growth, but not with a lower risk for death after discharge or severe disability. The cohort with fortified breast milk reached a higher mean height at 2 years of CA.