Population-based risks of mortality and preterm morbidity by gestational age and birth weight

R J Baer; E E Rogers; J C Partridge; J G Anderson; M Morris; M Kuppermann; L S Franck; L Rand; L L Jelliffe-Pawlowski

doi:10.1038/jp.2016.118

Population-based risks of mortality and preterm morbidity by gestational age and birth weight

J Perinatol. 2016 Nov;36(11):1008-1013. doi: 10.1038/jp.2016.118. Epub 2016 Jul 28.

Authors

R J Baer¹, E E Rogers², J C Partridge², J G Anderson², M Morris³, M Kuppermann⁴, L S Franck⁵, L Rand⁴, L L Jelliffe-Pawlowski³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
² Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
³ Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA.
⁴ Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
⁵ School of Nursing, Department of Family Health Care Nursing, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.

PMID: 27467566
DOI: 10.1038/jp.2016.118

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study is to examine the effect of small or large for gestational age (SGA/LGA) status on mortality and morbidity by gestational age.

Study design: Logistic binomial regression was used to calculate relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals for infant mortality and preterm morbidities for SGA or LGA compared with appropriately grown (AGA) deliveries stratified by gestational age group.

Results: Compared with AGA infants of similar gestational age, SGA infants were at increased risk for infant mortality. Mortality risk was decreased for LGA infants born between 25 and 27 weeks (RR: 0.6) but increased for LGA infants born between 28 and 31 weeks (RR: 1.9). Risk of preterm morbidity was increased for SGA infants born between 28 and 38 weeks, but decreased for LGA infants born before 37 weeks.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates the importance of considering birth weight for gestational age when evaluating morbidity and mortality risks.

MeSH terms

Birth Weight*
California
Female
Gestational Age*
Humans
Infant
Infant Mortality*
Infant, Extremely Premature
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Small for Gestational Age
Logistic Models
Male
Perinatal Mortality*
Pregnancy
Retrospective Studies
Risk