Comparing neonatal outcome of late preterm: Intrauterine growth restricted (IUGR) average for gestational age infants

Abstract

Comparing Neonatal outcome of late preterm -Intrauterine growth restricted (IUGR) vs Average for Gestational age (AGA) infants.Background: Individuals who had IUGR experience a range of poorer developmental outcomes, encompassing cognitive, socioemotional, and behavioral domains, compared with individuals who were born appropriate for gestational age (AGA).The primary aim was to evaluate neonatal outcome in late preterm IUGR and SGA infants and comparing them.Methods: Out of 3256 total live births, late preterm births are 341(10.4%). Incidence of IUGR in late preterm infants is 71/341(2.15%) and AGA is 170/341(8.25%). We analysed 100 singleton pregnancies, 50 infants with birth weight less than 10th percentile, control group with 50 infants with birth weight between 11-89 percentile at 34-36+6 weeks gestational age. The control group consisted of spontaneous preterm delivery at the same gestational age.Birth weight percentiles were based on the standard growth curve of Alexander et al. Results: There was a significant difference in mean birth weight between the two groups (IUGR: 1720g and AGA: 2495g). The frequency of cesarean sections was 64% in the IUGR group and 26% in the AGA group. 3 neonates of the IUGR group and one of the AGA infants presented Apgar scores <7 at 5 minutes. The length of stay of the newborn in the nursery, as well as the need for and duration of hospitalization in the NICU, differed significantly between the two groups. TTN, Neonatal sepsis and hyperbilirubinemia didnot differ between groups but phototherapy required for IUGR group is more.Conclusion: Late-preterm IUGR infants present a significantly higher risk of neonatal complications and a significantly longer NICU and hospital stay when compared to late-preterm AGA infants.