Anemia of Prematurity and Oral Feeding Milestones in Premature Infants.

Objective Anemia of prematurity (AOP) and oral feeding problems are common in premature infants. This study aimed to determine the influence of AOP on aerodigestive outcomes and the duration to full Per Oral (PO). Study Design Prospectively collected data on premature infants who initiated oral feeds at ≤ 34 weeks' postmenstrual age were examined. Infants were categorized into “AOP+” and “AOP−” based on hematocrit at initial PO, that is,  Results Forty-four infants in AOP+ compared with 74 in AOP−. AOP+ infants had lower birth gestation and weight (p  Conclusion AOP is not independently associated with the duration to full PO. Supplemental oxygen for associated comorbidities may have compensated for the underlying anemia.