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Fernández Alba JJ, Castillo Lara M, Jiménez Heras JM, Santotoribio JD, Fuentes Morales R, Rosa Rubio FJ, González Macías C. Customized Fetal Body Mass Index as a Better Predictive Marker for Neonatal Nutritional Status. Diagnostics (Basel) 2025; 15:877. [PMID: 40218226 PMCID: PMC11988378 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics15070877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2025] [Revised: 03/26/2025] [Accepted: 03/28/2025] [Indexed: 04/14/2025] Open
Abstract
Background/Objectives: The diagnosis of fetal nutritional status is of great importance for the accurate evaluation and monitoring of these pregnancies. The objective of the present study is to develop a model that allows for the prenatal assessment of fetal body mass index and to evaluate its diagnostic efficacy in predicting neonatal nutritional status. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted to develop and evaluate a new model in the diagnosis of alterations in fetal nutritional status based on the customized fetal body mass index. By establishing the relationship between weight and length, we can calculate the fetal body mass index, which could correlate more effectively with nutritional status. Results: A total of 12,633 subjects were recruited, and 9499 were included in our study. Capacities to predict both neonatal malnourishment and overnutrition were calculated for each of the three methods analyzed (BMI, GROW, and IG21st). The receiver operating characteristic curve for each method was developed. The sensitivity and specificity for the assessment of malnutrition were 0.83 and 0.90, respectively. The area under the ROC curve of our method was 0.95 for malnutrition, while for IG21st and GROW, it was 0.80 and 0.79, respectively. Conclusions: This study demonstrates a superior diagnostic capacity for alterations in fetal and neonatal nutritional status of this new fetal BMI curve compared to the previously used fetal weight percentile curves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Jesús Fernández Alba
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital of Puerto Real, 11-510 Cadiz, Spain; (R.F.M.); (F.J.R.R.); (C.G.M.)
- Institute of Research and Innovation in Biomedical Sciences of the Province of Cadiz (INiBICA), 11-009 Cadiz, Spain; (J.M.J.H.); (J.D.S.)
| | - María Castillo Lara
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital of Puerto Real, 11-510 Cadiz, Spain; (R.F.M.); (F.J.R.R.); (C.G.M.)
| | - José Manuel Jiménez Heras
- Institute of Research and Innovation in Biomedical Sciences of the Province of Cadiz (INiBICA), 11-009 Cadiz, Spain; (J.M.J.H.); (J.D.S.)
| | - Jose Diego Santotoribio
- Institute of Research and Innovation in Biomedical Sciences of the Province of Cadiz (INiBICA), 11-009 Cadiz, Spain; (J.M.J.H.); (J.D.S.)
| | - Rocío Fuentes Morales
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital of Puerto Real, 11-510 Cadiz, Spain; (R.F.M.); (F.J.R.R.); (C.G.M.)
| | - Francisco José Rosa Rubio
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital of Puerto Real, 11-510 Cadiz, Spain; (R.F.M.); (F.J.R.R.); (C.G.M.)
| | - Carmen González Macías
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital of Puerto Real, 11-510 Cadiz, Spain; (R.F.M.); (F.J.R.R.); (C.G.M.)
- Institute of Research and Innovation in Biomedical Sciences of the Province of Cadiz (INiBICA), 11-009 Cadiz, Spain; (J.M.J.H.); (J.D.S.)
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Geerts L, Brink LT, Odendaal HJ. Selecting a birth weight standard for an indigenous population in a LMIC: A prospective comparative study. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2024; 166:1161-1169. [PMID: 38571441 PMCID: PMC11518920 DOI: 10.1002/ijgo.15519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of the present study was to compare birth weight (BW) distribution and proportion of BWs below or above specified percentiles in low-risk singleton pregnancies in healthy South African (SA) women of mixed ancestry with expected values according to four BW references and to determine the physiological factors affecting BW. METHODS This was an ancillary study of a prospective multinational cohort study, involving 7060 women recruited between August 2007 and January 2015 in two townships of Cape Town, characterized by low socioeconomic status, and high levels of drinking and smoking. Detailed information about maternal and pregnancy characteristics, including harmful exposures, was gathered prospectively, allowing us to select healthy women with uncomplicated pregnancies without any known harmful exposures. In this cohort we compared the median BW and the proportion of BWs P90, 95 and 97 according to four reference standards (INTERGROWTH-21st, customized according to the method described by Mickolajczyk, Fetal Medicine Foundation and revised Fenton reference) with expected values. Appropriate parametric and nonparametric tests were used, and sensitivity analysis was performed for infant sex, first trimester bookings and women of normal body mass index (BMI). Multiple regression was used to explore effects of confounders. Written consent and ethics approval was obtained. RESULTS The cohort included 739 infants. The INTERGROWTH-21st standard was closest for the actual BW-distribution and categories. Below-expected BW was associated with boys, younger, shorter, leaner women, lower parity and gravidity. Actual BW was significantly influenced by maternal weight, BMI, parity and gestational age. CONCLUSION Of the four references assessed in this study, the INTERGROWTH-21st standard was closest for the actual BW distribution. Maternal variables significantly influence BW.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lut Geerts
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Parow, South Africa
| | - Lucy T Brink
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Parow, South Africa
| | - Hein J Odendaal
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Parow, South Africa
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Gleason JL, Reddy UM, Chen Z, Grobman WA, Wapner RJ, Steller JG, Simhan H, Scifres CM, Blue N, Parry S, Grantz KL. Comparing population-based fetal growth standards in a US cohort. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2024; 231:338.e1-338.e18. [PMID: 38151220 PMCID: PMC11196385 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2023.12.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND No fetal growth standard is currently endorsed for universal use in the United States. Newer standards improve upon the methodologic limitations of older studies; however, before adopting into practice, it is important to know how recent standards perform at identifying fetal undergrowth or overgrowth and at predicting subsequent neonatal morbidity or mortality in US populations. OBJECTIVE To compare classification of estimated fetal weight that is <5th or 10th percentile or >90th percentile by 6 population-based fetal growth standards and the ability of these standards to predict a composite of neonatal morbidity and mortality. STUDY DESIGN We used data from the Nulliparous Pregnancy Outcomes Study: Monitoring Mothers-to-be cohort, which recruited nulliparous women in the first trimester at 8 US clinical centers (2010-2014). Estimated fetal weight was obtained from ultrasounds at 16 to 21 and 22 to 29 weeks of gestation (N=9534 women). We calculated rates of fetal growth restriction (estimated fetal weight <5th and 10th percentiles; fetal growth restriction<5 and fetal growth restriction<10) and estimated fetal weight >90th percentile (estimated fetal weight>90) from 3 large prospective fetal growth cohorts with similar rigorous methodologies: INTERGROWTH-21, World Health Organization-sex-specific and combined, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development race-ethnic-specific and unified, and the historic Hadlock reference. To determine whether differential classification of fetal growth restriction or estimated fetal weight >90 among standards was clinically meaningful, we then compared area under the curve and sensitivity of each standard to predict small for gestational age or large for gestational age at birth, composite perinatal morbidity and mortality alone, and small for gestational age or large for gestational age with composite perinatal morbidity and mortality. RESULTS The standards classified different proportions of fetal growth restriction and estimated fetal weight>90 for ultrasounds at 16 to 21 (visit 2) and 22 to 29 (visit 3) weeks of gestation. At visit 2, the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development race-ethnic-specific, World Health Organization sex-specific and World Health Organization-combined identified similar rates of fetal growth restriction<10 (8.4%-8.5%) with the other 2 having lower rates, whereas Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development race-ethnic-specific identified the highest rate of fetal growth restriction<5 (5.0%) compared with the other references. At visit 3, World Health Organization sex-specific classified 9.2% of fetuses as fetal growth restriction<10, whereas the other 5 classified a lower proportion as follows: World Health Organization-combined (8.4%), Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development race-ethnic-specific (7.7%), INTERGROWTH (6.2%), Hadlock (6.1%), and Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development unified (5.1%). INTERGROWTH classified the highest (21.3%) as estimated fetal weight>90 whereas Hadlock classified the lowest (8.3%). When predicting composite perinatal morbidity and mortality in the setting of early-onset fetal growth restriction, World Health Organization had the highest area under the curve of 0.53 (95% confidence interval, 0.51-0.53) for fetal growth restriction<10 at 22 to 29 weeks of gestation, but the areas under the curve were similar among standards (0.52). Sensitivity was generally low across standards (22.7%-29.1%). When predicting small for gestational age birthweight with composite neonatal morbidity or mortality, for fetal growth restriction<10 at 22 to 29 weeks of gestation, World Health Organization sex-specific had the highest area under the curve (0.64; 95% confidence interval, 0.60-0.67) and INTERGROWTH had the lowest (area under the curve=0.58; 95% confidence interval 0.55-0.62), though all standards had low sensitivity (7.0%-9.6%). CONCLUSION Despite classifying different proportions of fetuses as fetal growth restriction or estimated fetal weight>90, all standards performed similarly in predicting perinatal morbidity and mortality. Classification of different percentages of fetuses as fetal growth restriction or estimated fetal weight>90 among references may have clinical implications in the management of pregnancies, such as increased antenatal monitoring for fetal growth restriction or cesarean delivery for suspected large for gestational age. Our findings highlight the importance of knowing how standards perform in local populations, but more research is needed to determine if any standard performs better at identifying the risk of morbidity or mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L Gleason
- Epidemiology Branch, Division of Population Health Research, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD
| | - Uma M Reddy
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY
| | - Zhen Chen
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Branch, Division of Population Health Research, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD
| | - William A Grobman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
| | - Ronald J Wapner
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY
| | - Jon G Steller
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA
| | - Hyagriv Simhan
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Christina M Scifres
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Nathan Blue
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Samuel Parry
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Katherine L Grantz
- Epidemiology Branch, Division of Population Health Research, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD.
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Tanner D, Lavista Ferres JM, Mitchell EA. Improved estimation of the relationship between fetal growth and late stillbirth in the United States, 2014-15. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6002. [PMID: 38472269 PMCID: PMC10933328 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56572-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
In the United States the rate of stillbirth after 28 weeks' gestation (late stillbirth) is 2.7/1000 births. Fetuses that are small for gestational age (SGA) or large for gestational age (LGA) are at increased risk of stillbirth. SGA and LGA are often categorized as growth or birthweight ≤ 10th and ≥ 90th centile, respectively; however, these cut-offs are arbitrary. We sought to characterize the relationship between birthweight and stillbirth risk in greater detail. Data on singleton births between 28- and 44-weeks' gestation from 2014 to 2015 were extracted from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention live birth and fetal death files. Growth was assessed using customized birthweight centiles (Gestation Related Optimal Weight; GROW). The analyses included logistic regression using SGA/LGA categories and a generalized additive model (GAM) using birthweight centile as a continuous exposure. Although the SGA and LGA categories identified infants at risk of stillbirth, categorical models provided poor fits to the data within the high-risk bins, and in particular markedly underestimated the risk for the extreme centiles. For example, for fetuses in the lowest GROW centile, the observed rate was 39.8/1000 births compared with a predicted rate of 11.7/1000 from the category-based analysis. In contrast, the model-predicted risk from the GAM tracked closely with the observed risk, with the GAM providing an accurate characterization of stillbirth risk across the entire birthweight continuum. This study provides stillbirth risk estimates for each GROW centile, which clinicians can use in conjunction with other clinical details to guide obstetric management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darren Tanner
- AI for Health, AI for Good Research Lab, Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA, USA.
| | | | - Edwin A Mitchell
- Department of Paediatrics: Child and Youth Health, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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John S, Joseph KS, Fahey J, Liu S, Kramer MS. The clinical performance and population health impact of birthweight-for-gestational age indices at term gestation. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 2024; 38:1-11. [PMID: 37337693 DOI: 10.1111/ppe.12994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The assessment of birthweight for gestational age and the identification of small- and large-for-gestational age (SGA and LGA) infants remain contentious, despite the recent creation of the Intergrowth 21st Project and World Health Organisation (WHO) birthweight-for-gestational age standards. OBJECTIVE We carried out a study to identify birthweight-for-gestational age cut-offs, and corresponding population-based, Intergrowth 21st and WHO centiles associated with higher risks of adverse neonatal outcomes, and to evaluate their ability to predict serious neonatal morbidity and neonatal mortality (SNMM) at term gestation. METHODS The study population was based on non-anomalous, singleton live births between 37 and 41 weeks' gestation in the United States from 2003 to 2017. SNMM included 5-min Apgar score <4, neonatal seizures, need for assisted ventilation, and neonatal death. Birthweight-specific SNMM was modelled by gestational week using penalised B-splines. The birthweights at which SNMM odds were minimised (and higher by 10%, 50% and 100%) were estimated, and the corresponding population, Intergrowth 21st, and WHO centiles were identified. The clinical performance and population impact of these cut-offs for predicting SNMM were evaluated. RESULTS The study included 40,179,663 live births and 991,486 SNMM cases. Among female singletons at 39 weeks' gestation, SNMM odds was lowest at 3203 g birthweight, and 10% higher at 2835 g and 3685 g (population centiles 11th and 82nd, Intergrowth centiles 17th and 88th and WHO centiles 15th and 85th). Birthweight cut-offs were poor predictors of SNMM, for example, the cut-offs associated with 10% and 50% higher odds of SNMM among female singletons at 39 weeks' gestation resulted in a sensitivity, specificity, and population attributable fraction of 12.5%, 89.4%, and 2.1%, and 2.9%, 98.4% and 1.3%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Reference- and standard-based birthweight-for-gestational age indices and centiles perform poorly for predicting adverse neonatal outcomes in individual infants, and their associated population impact is also small.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sid John
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia and the Children's and Women's Hospital and Health Centre of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - K S Joseph
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia and the Children's and Women's Hospital and Health Centre of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - John Fahey
- Reproductive Care Program of Nova Scotia, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Shiliang Liu
- Centre for Surveillance and Applied Research, Public Health Agency of Canada and the School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael S Kramer
- Departments of Epidemiology and Occupation Health and of Pediatrics, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
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Ovadia YS, Dror I, Liberty G, Gavra-Shlissel H, Anteby EY, Fox S, Berkowitz B, Zohav E. Amniotic fluid rubidium concentration association with newborn birthweight: a maternal-neonatal pilot study. Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM 2023; 5:101149. [PMID: 37660761 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajogmf.2023.101149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although most biological systems, including human tissues, contain rubidium, its biogeochemical functions and possible role in neonatal birthweight are largely unknown. An animal study indicated a correlation between rubidium deficiency in the maternal diet and lower newborn birthweight. OBJECTIVE This pilot study measured rubidium concentrations in amniotic fluid during the second trimester of (low-risk) pregnancy and investigated potential correlations between rubidium levels and third-trimester newborn birthweight-small for gestational age, appropriate for gestational age, and large for gestational age-and between preterm birth and term birth in uncomplicated pregnancies. STUDY DESIGN This prospective, single-center study investigated a possible relationship between rubidium concentration in second-trimester amniotic fluid and third-trimester birthweight percentile. Amniotic fluid (at a median gestational age of 19 weeks) was sampled to determine rubidium concentration. Maternal and newborn characteristics were obtained from participant and delivery records. RESULTS After screening 173 pregnant women, 99 amniotic fluid samples were evaluated. Midpregnancy median rubidium concentrations were significantly lower among newborns that were classified as small for gestational age than among newborns that were classified as appropriate for gestational age (106 vs 136 μg/L; P<.01). Based on a logistic regression random forest model, amniotic fluid rubidium was identified as a significant contributing factor to appropriate-for-gestational-age birthweight with 54% of the total contribution. CONCLUSION Amniotic fluid rubidium concentration seems to be a strong predictor of appropriate-for-gestational-age birthweight and a potential marker for newborn birthweight classifications. In particular, low rubidium concentrations in amniotic fluid during midpregnancy are linked to third-trimester lower birthweight percentile. These findings could potentially serve as a valuable tool for early identification of pregnancy outcomes. Further investigation is necessary to fully explore the effect of rubidium on fetal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaniv S Ovadia
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Barzilai University Medical Center, Ashkelon, Israel (Drs Ovadia, Gavra-Shlissel, and Prof. Anteby); Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel (Drs Ovadia, Dror, and Prof. Berkowitz)
| | - Ishai Dror
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel (Drs Ovadia, Dror, and Prof. Berkowitz).
| | - Gad Liberty
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Ultrasound Unit, Barzilai University Medical Center, Ashkelon, Israel (Drs Liberty and Zohav); Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel (Dr Liberty, Prof. Anteby and Dr Zohav)
| | - Hadar Gavra-Shlissel
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Barzilai University Medical Center, Ashkelon, Israel (Drs Ovadia, Gavra-Shlissel, and Prof. Anteby)
| | - Eyal Y Anteby
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Barzilai University Medical Center, Ashkelon, Israel (Drs Ovadia, Gavra-Shlissel, and Prof. Anteby); Department of Chemical Research Support, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel (Dr Fox)
| | - Stephen Fox
- Department of Chemical Research Support, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel (Dr Fox)
| | - Brian Berkowitz
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel (Drs Ovadia, Dror, and Prof. Berkowitz)
| | - Efraim Zohav
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Ultrasound Unit, Barzilai University Medical Center, Ashkelon, Israel (Drs Liberty and Zohav); Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel (Dr Liberty, Prof. Anteby and Dr Zohav)
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Gardosi J, Hugh O. Stillbirth risk and smallness for gestational age according to Hadlock, INTERGROWTH-21st, WHO, and GROW fetal weight standards: analysis by maternal ethnicity and body mass index. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2023; 229:547.e1-547.e13. [PMID: 37247647 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2023.05.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Appropriate growth charts are essential for fetal surveillance, to confirm that growth is proceeding normally and to identify pregnancies that are at risk. Many stillbirths are avoidable through antenatal detection of the small-for-gestational-age fetus. In the absence of an international consensus on which growth chart to use, it is essential that clinical practice reflects outcome-based evidence. OBJECTIVE This study investigated the performance of 4 internationally used fetal weight standards and their ability to identify stillbirth risk in different ethnic and maternal size groups of a heterogeneous population. STUDY DESIGN We analyzed routinely collected maternity data from more than 2.2 million pregnancies. Three population-based fetal weight standards (Hadlock, Intergrowth-21st, and World Health Organization) were compared with the customized GROW standard that was adjusted for maternal height, weight, parity, and ethnic origin. Small-for-gestational-age birthweight and stillbirth risk were determined for the 2 largest ethnic groups in our population (British European and South Asian), in 5 body mass index categories, and in 4 maternal size groups with normal body mass index (18.5-25.0 kg/m2). The differences in trend between stillbirth and small-for-gestational-age rates were assessed using the Clogg z test, and differences between stillbirths and body mass index groups were assessed using the chi-square trend test. RESULTS Stillbirth rates (per 1000) were higher in South Asian pregnancies (5.51) than British-European pregnancies (3.89) (P<.01) and increased in both groups with increasing body mass index (P<.01). Small-for-gestational-age rates were 2 to 3-fold higher for South Asian babies than British European babies according to the population-average standards (Hadlock: 26.2% vs 12.2%; Intergrowth-21st: 12.1% vs 4.9%; World Health Organization: 32.2% vs 16.0%) but were similar by the customized GROW standard (14.0% vs 13.6%). Despite the wide variation, each standard's small-for-gestation-age cases had increased stillbirth risk compared with non-small-for-gestation-age cases, with the magnitude of risk inversely proportional to the rate of cases defined as small for gestational age. All standards had similar stillbirth risk when the small-for-gestation-age rate was fixed at 10% by varying their respective thresholds for defining small for gestational age. When analyzed across body mass index subgroups, the small-for-gestation-age rate according to the GROW standard increased with increasing stillbirth rate, whereas small-for-gestation-age rates according to Hadlock, Intergrowth-21st, and World Health Organization fetal weight standards declined with increasing body mass index, showing a difference in trend (P<.01) to stillbirth rates across body mass index groups. In the normal body mass index subgroup, stillbirth rates showed little variation across maternal size groups; this trend was followed by GROW-based small-for-gestation-age rates, whereas small-for-gestation-age rates defined by each population-average standard declined with increasing maternal size. CONCLUSION Comparisons between population-average and customized fetal growth charts require examination of how well each standard identifies pregnancies at risk of adverse outcomes within subgroups of any heterogeneous population. In both ethnic groups studied, increasing maternal body mass index was accompanied by increasing stillbirth risk, and this trend was reflected in more pregnancies being identified as small for gestational age only by the customized standard. In contrast, small-for-gestation-age rates fell according to each population-average standard, thereby hiding the increased stillbirth risk associated with high maternal body mass index.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Oliver Hugh
- Perinatal Institute, Birmingham, United Kingdom
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Morkuniene R, Cole TJ, Jakimaviciene EM, Bankauskiene A, Isakova J, Drazdiene N, Basys V, Tutkuviene J. Regional references vs. international standards for assessing weight and length by gestational age in Lithuanian neonates. Front Pediatr 2023; 11:1173685. [PMID: 37388293 PMCID: PMC10303945 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2023.1173685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction There is no global consensus as to which standards are the most appropriate for the assessment of birth weight and length. The study aimed to compare the applicability of regional and global standards to the Lithuanian newborn population by sex and gestational age, based on the prevalence of small or large for gestational age (SGA/LGA). Materials and Methods Analysis was performed on neonatal length and weight data obtained from the Lithuanian Medical Birth Register from 1995 to 2015 (618,235 newborns of 24-42 gestational weeks). Their distributions by gestation and sex were estimated using generalized additive models for location, scale, and shape (GAMLSS), and the results were compared with the INTERGROWTH-21st (IG-21) standard to evaluate the prevalence of SGA/LGA (10th/90th centile) at different gestational ages. Results The difference in median length at term between the local reference and IG-21 was 3 cm-4 cm, while median weight at term differed by 200 g. The Lithuanian median weight at term was higher than in IG-21 by a full centile channel width, while the median length at term was higher by two channel widths. Based on the regional reference, the prevalence rates of SGA/LGA were 9.7%/10.1% for boys and 10.1%/9.9% for girls, close to the nominal 10%. Conversely, based on IG-21, the prevalence of SGA in boys/girls was less than half (4.1%/4.4%), while the prevalence of LGA was double (20.7%/19.1%). Discussion Regional population-based neonatal references represent Lithuanian neonatal weight and length much more accurately than the global standard IG-21 which provides the prevalence rates for SGA/LGA that differ from the true values by a factor of two.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruta Morkuniene
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Anthropology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Tim J. Cole
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Egle Marija Jakimaviciene
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Anthropology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Agne Bankauskiene
- Department of Human and Medical Genetics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Jelena Isakova
- Health Information Center, Institute of Hygiene, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Nijole Drazdiene
- Clinic of Children’s Diseases, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Vytautas Basys
- Division of Biological, Medical and Geosciences, Lithuanian Academy of Sciences, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Janina Tutkuviene
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Anthropology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
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Ashorn P, Ashorn U, Muthiani Y, Aboubaker S, Askari S, Bahl R, Black RE, Dalmiya N, Duggan CP, Hofmeyr GJ, Kennedy SH, Klein N, Lawn JE, Shiffman J, Simon J, Temmerman M. Small vulnerable newborns-big potential for impact. Lancet 2023; 401:1692-1706. [PMID: 37167991 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(23)00354-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 47.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Despite major achievements in child survival, the burden of neonatal mortality has remained high and even increased in some countries since 1990. Currently, most neonatal deaths are attributable to being born preterm, small for gestational age (SGA), or with low birthweight (LBW). Besides neonatal mortality, these conditions are associated with stillbirth and multiple morbidities, with short-term and long-term adverse consequences for the newborn, their families, and society, resulting in a major loss of human capital. Prevention of preterm birth, SGA, and LBW is thus critical for global child health and broader societal development. Progress has, however, been slow, largely because of the global community's failure to agree on the definition and magnitude of newborn vulnerability and best ways to address it, to frame the problem attractively, and to build a broad coalition of actors and a suitable governance structure to implement a change. We propose a new definition and a conceptual framework, bringing preterm birth, SGA, and LBW together under a broader umbrella term of the small vulnerable newborn (SVN). Adoption of the framework and the unified definition can facilitate improved problem definition and improved programming for SVN prevention. Interventions aiming at SVN prevention would result in a healthier start for live-born infants, while also reducing the number of stillbirths, improving maternal health, and contributing to a positive economic and social development in the society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Per Ashorn
- Center for Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland; Department of Paediatrics, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland.
| | - Ulla Ashorn
- Center for Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Yvonne Muthiani
- Center for Child, Adolescent and Maternal Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | | | | | - Rajiv Bahl
- Indian Council for Medical Research, New Delhi, India
| | - Robert E Black
- Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Nita Dalmiya
- United Nations Children's Fund, New York, NY, USA
| | - Christopher P Duggan
- Center for Nutrition, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - G Justus Hofmeyr
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana; Effective Care Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Walter Sisulu University, East London, South Africa
| | - Stephen H Kennedy
- Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Nigel Klein
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Joy E Lawn
- Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive & Child Health Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Jeremy Shiffman
- Paul H Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Marleen Temmerman
- Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya
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10
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Voigt M, Nikischin W, Hentschel R, Strauss A, Kunze M, Ensenauer R, Wittwer-Backofen U, Hagenah HP, Olbertz D, Rochow N. [Individualized Somatic Classification of Newborns Using Birth Weight Percentiles Based On Maternal Body Height and Weight (Results of a Validation Study)]. Z Geburtshilfe Neonatol 2022; 226:377-383. [PMID: 36265498 DOI: 10.1055/a-1830-5519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Birth weight is influenced by maternal anthropometry. The SGA-rate of newborns of short and light mothers (<158 cm,<53 kg) and the LGA-rate of tall and heavy mothers (>177 cm,>79 kg) are overestimated. The LGA-rate of newborns of shorter mothers and the SGA-rate of taller mothers are underestimated. Individualized birth weight percentiles (IBWP) based on 18 maternal groups (6 groups of height combined with 3 groups of weight), sex and weeks of gestation have been published. The aim of this study is to validate IBWP by evaluating SGA-, AGA-, and LGA-rates using perinatal data. METHODS The validation study compares IBWP (1995 to 2000, n=2.2 million singletons) with percentile values from two German cohorts (i: 1995 to 2000; n=2.3 million and ii: 2007 to 2011, n=3.2 million singletons) using newborns from the Lower Saxony Perinatal Survey (n=0.56 million singleton newborns, 2001 to 2009). SGA-, AGA-, and LGA-rates were calculated using R statistical analysis. RESULTS Common percentile charts based on the total population 1995-2000 and 2007-2011 yielded SGA-rates among shorter mothers of 21.1 to 21.6% and LGA-rates of 2.0 to 3.1%. In taller mothers, SGA-rates were 3.3 to 3.5% and LGA-rates were 26.6 to 27.1%. IBWP achieved SGA-rates of 9.0% and LGA-rates of 11.4 to 11.6% in shorter mothers and SGA- and LGA-rates of 10% in taller mothers. DISCUSSION IBWP consider the maternal size for estimation of the fetal growth potential and achieve expected SGA- and LGA-rates of 10%. Consideration of individual growth potential avoids underestimation and overestimation of SGA- and LGA-rates. It aided analyses of birth weight with IBWP simplify the assessment of the nutritional status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manfred Voigt
- Universitätsklinikum Freiburg, Klinik für Frauenheilkunde, Freiburg, Germany
- Institut für Kinderernährung, Max-Rubner-Institut, Karlsruhe, Germany
- Universitätsklinikum Freiburg, Biologische Anthropologie, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Werner Nikischin
- Christian-Albrechts- Universität, Medizinische Fakultät, Kiel, Germany
| | - Roland Hentschel
- Universitätsklinikum Freiburg, Zentrum für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin, Funktionsbereich Neonatologie/Intensivmedizin, Freiburg, Germany
| | | | - Mirjam Kunze
- Universitätsklinikum Freiburg, Klinik für Frauenheilkunde, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Regina Ensenauer
- Institut für Kinderernährung, Max-Rubner-Institut, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | | | | | - Dirk Olbertz
- Klinikum Südstadt, Klinik für Neonatologie, Rostock, Germany
| | - Niels Rochow
- Universitätsklinik für Neugeborene, Kinder-und Jugendliche, Paracelsus Medizinische Privatuniversität Nürnberg, Nürnberg, Germany
- Universitätsmedizin Rostock, Kinder und Jugendklinik, Rostock, Germany
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11
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Combs CA, Castillo R, Kline C, Fuller K, Seet EL, Webb G, Del Rosario A. Choice of standards for sonographic fetal abdominal circumference percentile. Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM 2022; 4:100732. [PMID: 36038069 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajogmf.2022.100732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The diagnosis of abnormal fetal abdominal circumference is based on values >90th or <10th percentile. There are dozens of established norms that can be used to determine the percentile of a given abdominal circumference measurement, but there is no established method to determine which norms should be used. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate the applicability of 5 established abdominal circumference norms to our measurements and to determine which, if any, should be used for the diagnosis of abnormal fetal abdominal circumference. STUDY DESIGN Data were pooled from 6 maternal-fetal medicine practices to conduct a cross-sectional study. The inclusion criteria were a singleton fetus at 22.0 to 39.9 weeks of gestation with cardiac activity present, complete fetal biometry measured, and examination from 2019 or 2020. For patients with >1 eligible examination during the study period, a single examination was chosen at random for inclusion. Five norms of abdominal circumference were studied: the Hadlock formula, the World Health Organization Fetal Growth Curves, the International Fetal and Newborn Growth Consortium for the 21st-Century Project; and the National Institutes of Child Health and Human Development Fetal Growth Studies (fetuses of White patients and unified standard). Using formulas relating abdominal circumference to gestational age, we calculated the z scores of abdominal circumference (standard deviations from the mean), standard deviation of the z score, Kolmogorov-Smirnov D statistic, and relative mean squared error. The 5 norms were assessed for fit to our data based on 6 criteria: mean z score close to 0, standard deviation of the z score close to 1, low D statistic, low mean squared error, fraction of values >90th percentile close to 10%, and fraction of values <10th percentile close to 10%. RESULTS The inclusion criteria were met in 40,684 ultrasound examinations in 15,042 patients. Considering the 6 evaluation criteria, observed abdominal circumferences had the best fit to the World Health Organization standard (mean z score of 0.11±1.05, D statistic of 0.041, mean squared error of 0.84±1.46, 13% of examinations >90th percentile, and 7% of examinations <10th percentile). The Hadlock reference had an anomaly in its assumption of a constant standard deviation, resulting in the underdiagnosis of abnormal values at early gestational ages and overdiagnosis at late gestational ages. The International Fetal and Newborn Growth Consortium for the 21st-Century Project standard had a mean circumference smaller than all the other norms, resulting in the underdiagnosis of small circumferences and the overdiagnosis of large circumferences. Similar results were observed when restricting the analyses to a low-risk subgroup of 5487 examinations without identified risk factors for large for gestational age or small for gestational age. CONCLUSION The diagnosis of abnormal abdominal circumference depends on the norms used to define abdominal circumference percentiles. The World Health Organization standard had the best fit for our data.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Andrew Combs
- The Pediatrix (Mednax) Center for Research, Education, Quality, and Safety, Sunrise, FL (Dr Combs); Obstetrix Medical Group, Campbell, CA (Dr Combs and Ms del Rosario).
| | - Ramon Castillo
- Regional Obstetrical Consultants, Jacksonville, FL (Dr Castillo)
| | - Carolyn Kline
- Eastside Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Bellevue, WA (Dr Kline)
| | - Kisti Fuller
- Phoenix Perinatal Associates, Phoenix, AZ (Dr Fuller)
| | - Emily L Seet
- Obstetrix of Southern California, Long Beach, CA (Dr Seet)
| | - Gilbert Webb
- Maternal-Fetal Diagnostic Center of Atlanta, Austell, GA (Dr Webb)
| | - Amber Del Rosario
- Obstetrix Medical Group, Campbell, CA (Dr Combs and Ms del Rosario); University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA (Ms del Rosario)
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Butler E, Hugh O, Gardosi J. Evaluating the Growth Assessment Protocol for stillbirth prevention: progress and challenges. J Perinat Med 2022; 50:737-747. [PMID: 35618671 DOI: 10.1515/jpm-2022-0209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Many stillbirths are associated with fetal growth restriction, and are hence potentially avoidable. The Growth Assessment Protocol (GAP) is a multidisciplinary program with an evidence based care pathway, training in risk assessment, fetal growth surveillance with customised charts and rolling audit. Antenatal detection of small for gestational age (SGA) has become an indicator of quality of care. Evaluation is essential to understand the impact of such a prevention program. Randomised trials will not be effective if they cannot ensure proper implementation before assessment. Observational studies have allowed realistic evaluation in practice, with other factors excluded that may have influenced the outcome. An award winning 10 year study of stillbirth data in England has been able to assess the effect of GAP in isolation, and found a strong, causal association with improved antenatal detection of SGA babies, and the sustained decline in national stillbirth rates. The challenge now is to apply this program more widely in low and middle income settings where the main global burden of stillbirth is, and to adapt it to local needs and resources.
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