Growth at 2 years corrected age in preterm infants discharged on two different breast milk enhancements: An observational study
Year: 2024
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Breast milk (BM) enhancement is often used to meet the nutritional needs of preterm infants after hospital discharge to achieve optimal growth. This study compared growth at 18-28 months corrected age (CA) among very preterm (VP) and very low birth weight (VLBW) infants discharged from the neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) on two BM enhancements. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review study of infants born between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2017, with gestational age < 32 weeks or birthweight < 1500 g, discharged from the NICU on BM enhancements; fortification of BM with infant formula additives (BM-F) or unfortified BM supplemented with bottle feeds of infant formula (BM-S). BM enhancements were nonrandomized and determined by the medical team. A linear mixed model regression analysis with propensity score matching was used to estimate the adjusted associations between the nutrition plan at discharge and growth outcomes at 18-28 months CA follow-up. RESULTS: Two hundred and fifty-one VLBW/VP infants were included. Compared with BM-S, infants discharged on BM-F were more likely to continue receiving BM at 8-12 months CA, and had lower head circumference, weight-for-length z scores, and higher incidence of moderate malnutrition (p ≤ 0.01). After adjusting for confounders, discharge on BM-F was associated with a lower incidence of overweight/obesity at 18-28 months CA (odds interval: 0.45; confidence interval: 0.21-0.96; p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: This retrospective study suggests that VLBW/VP infants discharged on BM-F received BM longer, had lower growth parameter and were less likely to be overweight/obese at 18-28 months CA. Further studies are needed to evaluate the role of postdischarge nutrition on preterm born children's growth, metabolic disease, and neurodevelopmental outcomes.
DOI: 10.1002/jpn3.12341
Authors: Brigitta Gehl, Richard Feinn, Kathleen Haines, Naveed Hussain, Shabnam Lainwala
Language: English
Topic: Infant Nutrition and Health
Subfield: Nutrition and Dietetics
Field: Nursing
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4401778254