Multifaceted approaches to promoting the growth potential in small-for-gestational-age infants and their clinical relevance

Pak J Med Sci. 2025 Jul;41(7):1881-1886. doi: 10.12669/pjms.41.7.11010.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the multifaceted approaches to promoting growth potential in small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants and their clinical relevance.

METHODS: This was a retrospective study. A total of 196 SGA infants who were born in the Department of Obstetrics at Baoding Maternal & Child Health Hospital from February 2020 to February 2024 were selected as the study subjects and were divided into the control group (n=98) and the catch-up group (n=98) according to different nursing approaches. Specifically, the clinical value was investigated using the various development index, and maternal anxiety and depression scores.

RESULT: No significant differences were observed in body weight, height, WAZ, and HAZ between the 2 groups at 3 ~ 9 months of corrected age (P > 0.05), while the body weight, height, WAZ, and HAZ in the catch-up group were greater than those in the control group at 12 ~ 24 months of corrected age, with significant differences (P < 0.01). Meanwhile, at 24 months of correction age, PDI, MDI, FBG and Homa-IAI indexes in the catch-up group were higher than those in the control group, while FINS, Homa-IR, HBCI and anxiety and depression indexes were lower than those in the control group, with statistical significance (P<0.01).

CONCLUSION: Early interventions in SGA infants with appropriate growth potential can achieve catch-up growth and prevent side effects of overnutrition-induced insulin resistance.

PMID:40735568 | PMC:PMC12302080 | DOI:10.12669/pjms.41.7.11010