Evidence · Systematic review or meta-analysis
Postnatal growth in preterm infants and later health outcomes: a systematic review.
- Allied health
- Enteral feeding
- Growth
- Medical
- Neurodevelopmental follow-up
- Neurology
- Nutrition and gastrointestinal
This paper is from 2015, more than five years ago. Newer evidence may have been published since.
Summary
This systematic review examines associations between postnatal growth in preterm infants and later health outcomes. Observational studies consistently linked better postnatal weight and head growth with improved neurocognitive outcomes, though evidence from intervention studies was limited. Evidence connecting postnatal weight gain with later adiposity and cardiovascular risk factors was also limited. It informs balancing nutritional support for neurodevelopment against possible long-term metabolic risk.
Summary written for NICUlearn. Always read the original.
- Licence:
- Open (Creative Commons)
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