Association of fetal ultrasound anthropometric parameters with neurodevelopmental outcomes at 24 months of age

PLoS One. 2023 Dec 22;18(12):e0296215. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296215. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

Background: There is a paucity of studies which have examined associations between ultrasound based fetal anthropometric parameters and neurodevelopment in all infants. We examined the association between ultrasound based fetal anthropometric parameters and neurodevelopment in all infants through a secondary analysis of data collected in a large community based randomized controlled trial.

Methods: A total of 1465 mother-child dyads were included. Ultrasound based fetal anthropometric parameters which included the head circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC), femur length (FL), biparietal diameter (BPD) and transcerebellar diameter (TCD) were collected at 26-28 weeks of gestation and their association with neurodevelopment at 24 months of age was examined.

Results: Only the transcerebellar diameter z score was positively associated +0.54 units (95% CI: 0.15, 0.93) with motor composite score. When the neurodevelopment outcomes were analyzed as categorical, none of the fetal variables were associated with risk of moderate to severe neurodevelopment impairment.

Conclusion: The findings suggest that transcerebellar diameter could be useful for early prediction of neurodevelopmental outcomes in childhood.

Clinical trial registration: Clinical trial registration of Women and Infants Integrated Interventions for Growth Study Clinical Trial Registry-India, #CTRI/2017/06/008908; Registered on: 23/06/2017, (http://ctri.nic.in/Clinicaltrials/pmaindet2.php?trialid=19339&EncHid=&userName=society%20for%20applied%20studies).

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Anthropometry
  • Cephalometry
  • Female
  • Fetal Development
  • Fetus / diagnostic imaging
  • Gestational Age
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Pregnancy
  • Prenatal Care*
  • Ultrasonography, Prenatal*

Grants and funding

NB received the funding for the main trial and it was funded by the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), Department of Biotechnology, Government of India under the Grand Challenges India- All Children Thriving Initiative (GCIACT Ref No: BIRAC/GCI/0085/03/14-ACT) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, USA (Grant ID #OPP1191052). The funders has no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish or preparation of the manuscript.