The relationship of the rate of intrauterine growth of infants of low birth weight to mortality, morbidity, and congenital anomalies

doi:10.1016/S0022-3476(66)80038-0

The Journal of Pediatrics

Volume 69, Issue 4, October 1966, Pages 531-545

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3476(66)80038-0 Get rights and content

The purpose of this investigation is to determine the relationship of the intrauterine growth rate of low-birth-weight infants to neonatal mortality, congenital anomalies, and other factors related to the well-being of the neonate. A method has been developed which classifies infants of approximately 1,600 to 2,500 grams (3 pounds, 9 ounces, to 5 pounds, 8 ounces) in 4 gestation quartiles which have been made to be identical in their birth weight and sex distribution and to differ widely in their length of gestation. These 4 gestation quartiles, denoted short, intermediate short, intermediate long, and long, provide 4 groups of different rate of intrauterine growth from the very fast to the very slow. The data relate to 367 single white low-birth-weight infants in the Child Health and Development Studies in Oakland, California, and 20,408 such infants in New York City.

References (28)

SzalayG.C.
Intrauterine growth retardation versus Silver's syndrome
J. Pediat.
(1964)
BiermanJ.M. et al.
Analysis of the outcome of all pregnancies in a community (Kuai Pregnancy Study)
Am. J. Obst. & Gynec.
(1965)
YerushalmyJ. et al.
Birth weight and gestation as indices of immaturity
Am. J. Dis. Child.
(1965)
San Diego reports on trial revision of the birth certificate
California Health
(1956)
SchlesingerE.R. et al.
The combined effect of birth weight and length of gestation on neonatal mortality among single premature births
Pediatrics
(1955)
KarnM.N. et al.
Birth weight and gestation time in relation to maternal age, parity and infant survival
Ann. Eugenics
(1951)
TabackM.
Birth weight and length of gestation with relation to prematurity
J. A. M. A.
(1951)
McKeownT. et al.
Observations on all births (23,970) in Birmingham, 1947. IV. Premature births
Brit. M. J.
(1951)
CliffordS.H. et al.
Indices of fetal maturity
LubchencoL.O. et al.
Intrauterine growth as estimated from liveborn birth weight data at 24 to 42 weeks of gestation
Pediatrics
(1963)

ParmeleeA.H. et al.

Gestational age and the size of premature infants

Biol. Neonat.

(1964)

ErhardtC.L. et al.

Influence of weight and gestation on perinatal mortality by ethnic group

Am. J. Pub. Health

(1964)

McBurneyR.D.

The undernourished full term infant; a case report

West. J. Surg.

(1947)

BairdD.

The contribution of obstetrical factors to serious physical and mental handicap in children

J. Obst. & Gynaec. Brit. Emp.

(1959)

Cited by (118)

Low Birth Weight and Congenital Heart Disease: Current Status and Future Directions
2021, Journal of Pediatrics
Congenital anomalies in Tunisia: Frequency and risk factors
2017, Journal of Gynecology Obstetrics and Human Reproduction
Citation Excerpt :
In our study, congenital malformations were not significantly associated with low birth weight. In literature, an association of low birth weight with increased risk of congenital malformations is very well- documented [23,25]. The comparison of fetuses with a low (fetal age < first trimester) and high term (fetal age > first trimester) has shown that the malformed fetuses with relatively high term are more numerous.
Despite the high risk of recurrence of congenital malformations, there are no well-accepted preventive measures in developing countries like Tunisia. It is recommended that thorough epidemiological studies of congenital anomalies in this country are needed. The aim of this study is to assess the frequency and types of congenital anomalies in Tunisia and research some risk factors associated with occurrence of these anomalies.
In this retrospective study, all the fetuses who were autopsied during 21 years period from February 1991 to December 2011 (n = 9678) at Service of embryofetopathology in the Center of Maternity and Neonatology of Tunis (CMNT) were studied. The classification of malformations was based upon the anatomical system affected. The differences in fetal/maternal characteristics between cases with or without congenital malformations were assessed using Chi² test.
Of the all 9678 autopsied fetuses, 4498 (46.47%) were diagnosed as being malformed fetuses. Anomalies of limbs (22.71%) and digestive and abdominal wall defects (14.76%) were mostly detected, followed by congenital brain defects (13.41%) and nephrourologic abnormalities (11.23%). A marked association of parental consanguinity with increased congenital anomalies rates was found (P < 10⁻⁶, OR = 1.89, CI = 1.69–2.13).
In Tunisia, surveillance and epidemiological evaluation of congenital anomalies underline the high frequency of these events. This will help to better target congenital anomalies prevention and screening policies in our population.
Maternal perchlorate exposure in pregnancy and altered birth outcomes
2017, Environmental Research
Citation Excerpt :
The long-term consequences of these associations are unknown. A number of previous studies have identified associations between increased birthweight overall and adult obesity, a well-known risk factor for several chronic adult diseases (Schellong et al., 2012), as well as overall increased morbidity and mortality (Van den Berg and Yerushalmy, 1966). Whether or not these findings are directly relevant to our results is currently unknown.
At high medicinal doses perchlorate is known to decrease the production of thyroid hormone, a critical factor for fetal development. In a large and uniquely exposed cohort of pregnant women, we recently identified associations between environmental perchlorate exposures and decreased maternal thyroid hormone during pregnancy. Here, we investigate whether perchlorate might be associated with birthweight or preterm birth in the offspring of these women.
Maternal urinary perchlorate, serum thyroid hormone concentrations, birthweight, gestational age, and urinary nitrate, thiocyanate, and iodide were collected in 1957 mother-infant pairs from San Diego County during 2000–2003, a period when the county's water supply was contaminated with perchlorate. Associations between perchlorate exposure and birth outcomes were examined using linear and logistic regression analyses adjusted for maternal age, weight, race/ethnicity, and other factors.
Perchlorate was not associated with birth outcomes in the overall population. However, in analyses confined to male infants, log₁₀ maternal perchlorate concentrations were associated with increasing birthweight (β=143.1 gm, p=0.01), especially among preterm births (β=829.1 g, p<0.001). Perchlorate was associated with male preterm births ≥2500 g (odds ratio=3.03, 95% confidence interval=1.09–8.40, p-trend=0.03). Similar associations were not seen in females.
This is the first study to identify associations between perchlorate and increasing birthweight. Further research is needed to explore the differences we identified related to infant sex, preterm birth, and other factors. Given that perchlorate exposure is ubiquitous, and that long-term impacts can follow altered birth outcomes, future research on perchlorate could have widespread public health importance.
Clinical assessment of nutritional status at birth: Fetal malnutrition and SGA are not synonymous
1994, Pediatric Clinics of North America
Mother's age at menarche is associated with odds of preterm delivery: A case–control study
2024, BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Integrated Placental Modelling of Histology with Gene Expression to Identify Functional Impact on Fetal Growth
2023, Cells

View all citing articles on Scopus

^**

This investigation was supported by Grants Nos. HD00718 and RG5332 of the National Institutes of Health. The tabulations and computations were performed in part on the computer supported by the General Research Support Grant No. 5SO1FR5441 of the National Institutes of Health.

This paper has been presented at the joint session of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Biometric Society in Berkeley in December 1965, and has been partly discussed at the XI International Congress of Pediatrics in Tokyo in November 1965.

^*: Address: Child Health and Development Studies, 3867 Howe St., Oakland, Calif. 94611.

View full text

The relationship of the rate of intrauterine growth of infants of low birth weight to mortality, morbidity, and congenital anomalies**

J. Pediat.

Am. J. Obst. & Gynec.

Birth weight and gestation as indices of immaturity

Am. J. Dis. Child.

San Diego reports on trial revision of the birth certificate

California Health

The combined effect of birth weight and length of gestation on neonatal mortality among single premature births

Pediatrics

Birth weight and gestation time in relation to maternal age, parity and infant survival

Ann. Eugenics

Birth weight and length of gestation with relation to prematurity

J. A. M. A.

Observations on all births (23,970) in Birmingham, 1947. IV. Premature births

Brit. M. J.

Indices of fetal maturity

Intrauterine growth as estimated from liveborn birth weight data at 24 to 42 weeks of gestation