Assessment of nutritional status in preterm newborns admitted to a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit

Abstract

Introduction: The increase in survival rates of preterm newborns, especially newborns of very low birth weight and extreme low birth weight, has brought challenges to clinical practice: promoting adequate nutritional support to this population, to favor future neuropsychomotor growth and development, since the interaction between nutrition, growth, metabolic and genetic phenomena are determinant in subsequent health and quality of life. Objectives: Evaluate the incidence of extrauterine growth restriction (EUGR) in preterm newborns and describe the evolution of anthropometric parameters during hospitalization in the neonatal unit. Methods: Prospective cohort study included patients with birth weight ≤1500g and/or gestational age ≤32 weeks. Data collection of anthropometric parameters at birth and at hospital discharge, as well as data regarding clinical evolution and nutritional support. Descriptive statistics were used; comparisons of non-parametric data were used by the Mann-Whitney test and comparison of data matched by the Wilcoxon test, with a significance level of 5%. Results: The incidence of EUGR was 60.5%. There was a decrease in the Z score of weight (p<0.0001), length (p<0.0001) and head circumference (p<0.0001), comparing birth and hospital discharge. The evolution of weight was similar to that described in the literature and nutritional management showed late onset of parenteral and enteral nutrition. Patients with complications related to prematurity had a greater difference in Z-score of weight between birth and discharge. Conclusion: EUGR has a high incidence in preterm newborns, as a consequence of the impact of preterm birth, complications related to prematurity and nutritional practices implemented.