Growth and body composition of preterm infants less than or equal to 32 weeks: Cohort study

Abstract Background Extremely preterm infants with weights less than the 10th percentile at discharge have a fat-free mass deficit. Aim To analyze the relationship of weight Z-scores less than -2SD at term age with fat-free mass and fat mass at term age and at 1 and 3 months of corrected age in very preterm infants. Study design: cohort study Subjects: Sixty-six preterm infants born before or at 32 weeks gestation with birth weight equal or greater than the 10th percentile for age were included at term age. They were classified according to weight Z-score as either: “term (−)” (n = 18) if weight Z-scores were less -2SD or “term (+)” (n = 48) if the weight Z-scores were equal or greater than -2SD at term age. Outcome measures: Growth and body composition by an air displacement plethysmography system and bioimpedance were assessed at term age and 1 and 3 months of corrected age. Results: Lower fat-free mass persisted up to 3 months in the “term (−)” group [4137 g (645) vs 4592 g (707), p  Conclusions: The lean tissue deficits were maintained in the “term (−)” group while the differences in body fat percentage were not.