Approaching the diagnosis of growth-restricted neonates: a cohort study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The consequences of <it>in utero </it>growth restriction have been attracting scholarly attention for the past two decades. Nevertheless, the diagnosis of growth-restricted neonates is as yet an unresolved issue. Aim of this study is the evaluation of the performance of simple, common indicators of nutritional status, which are used in the identification of growth-restricted neonates.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In a cohort of 418 consecutively born term and near term neonates, four widely used anthropometric indices of body proportionality and subcutaneous fat accretion were applied, singly and in combination, as diagnostic markers for the detection of growth-restricted babies. The concordance of the indices was assessed in terms of positive and negative percent agreement and of Cohen's kappa.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The agreement between the anthropometric indices was overall poor with a highest positive percent agreement of 62.5% and a lowest of 27.9% and the κ ranging between 0.19 and 0.58. Moreover, 6% to 32% of babies having abnormal values in just one index were apparently well-grown and the median birth weight centile of babies having abnormal values of either of two indices was found to be as high as the 46^thcentile for gestational age (95%CI 35.5 to 60.4 and 29.8 to 63.9, respectively). On the contrary, the combination of anthropometric indices appeared to have better distinguishing properties among apparently and not apparently well-grown babies. The median birth weight centile of babies having abnormal values in two (or more) indices was the 11^thcentile for gestational age (95%CI 6.3 to 16.3).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Clinical assessment and anthropometric indices in combination can define a reference standard with better performance compared to the same indices used in isolation. This approach offers an easy-to-use tool for bedside diagnosis of <it>in utero </it>growth restriction.</p

First-Borns Carry a Higher Metabolic Risk in Early Adulthood: Evidence from a Prospective Cohort Study

Birth order has been associated with early growth variability and subsequent increased adiposity, but the consequent effects of increased fat mass on metabolic risk during adulthood have not been assessed. We aimed to quantify the metabolic risk in young adulthood of being first-born relative to those born second or subsequently.Body composition and metabolic risk were assessed in 2,249 men, aged 17-19 years, from a birth cohort in southern Brazil. Metabolic risk was assessed using a composite z-score integrating standardized measurements of blood pressure, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein, triglycerides and fat mass. First-borns had lower birth weight z-score (Δ = -0.25, 95%CI -0.35, -0.15,p<0.001) but showed greater weight gain during infancy (change in weight z-score from birth to 20 months: Δ = 0.39, 95%CI 0.28-0.50, p<0.0001) and had greater mean height (Δ = 1.2 cm, 95%CI: 0.7-1.6, p<0.0001) and weight (Δ = 0.34 kg, 95%CI: 0.13-0.55, p<0.002) at 43 months. This greater weight and height tracked into early adulthood, with first-borns being significantly taller, heavier and with significantly higher fat mass than later-borns. The metabolic risk z-score was significantly higher in first-borns.First-born status is associated with significantly elevated adiposity and metabolic risk in young adult men in Brazil. Our results, linking cardiovascular risk with life history variables, suggest that metabolic risk may be associated with the worldwide trend to smaller family size and it may interact with changes in behavioural or environmental risk factors

Vitamin A and neonatal anthropometry

Low levels of vitamin A have a major impact on growth, development, and immunity. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between cord concentrations of vitamin A and neonatal anthropometry in 711 babies born at term in Brazil. Gestational age of the babies was evaluated by the Capurro method. Vitamin A was measured by high performance liquid chromatography. Concentrations of vitamin A in cord blood correlated significantly (p < 0.001) with birthweight (r = 0.24), length (r = 0.20), chest circumference (r = 0.24), mid-upper arm circumference (r = 0.23), triceps skinfold thickness (r = 0.26), and head circumference (r = 0.12) of the babies. The anthropometric measurements of the babies were sorted by the vitamin A concentrations (means and standard deviations) and divided into quartiles. Differences between the quartiles were tested by analysis of variance. Babies in the bottom length, head circumference and triceps skinfold thickness quartiles had lower mean vitamin A concentrations than those of quartiles two, three and four. Babies in the bottom birthweight, chest and mid-upper arm circumferences quartiles had lower mean vitamin A concentrations than those of quartiles three and four (p < 0.003). These data shows that smaller/shorter babies had lower concentrations of vitamin A than heavier/longer babies, probably reflecting the important role of this micronutrient on growth

Prevalência e fatores associados a sintomas de ansiedade em uma coorte de gestantes atendidas em um centro de saúde do município do Rio de Janeiro Prevalence of anxiety symptoms and associated factors in a cohort of pregnant women attending a health care center in the municipality of Rio de Janeiro

OBJETIVOS: determinar a prevalência e a associação entre variáveis sócio-demográficas, obstétricas, nutricionais e sintomas de ansiedade em gestantes. MÉTODOS: trata-se de estudo prospectivo com cinco ondas de seguimento. A presente análise é transversal e foi realizada com 151 gestantes. A variável dependente foi a presença ou ausência de ansiedade na gestação, medida entre a 19ª e 21ª semana de gestação. Utilizou-se o Inventário de Ansiedade Traço-Estado (IDATE) para avaliar a ansiedade traço (a-traço). As variáveis independentes foram extraídas de um questionário com dados sócio-demográficos, obstétricos e nutricionais. A análise estatística foi realizada por meio da técnica de regressão multivariada de Poisson com variância robusta. RESULTADOS as gestantes tinham em média 25 anos e nove anos de escolaridade. A prevalência de ansiedade foi de 64,9% (IC95%: 56,7-72,5). No modelo multivariado observou-se que mulheres mais jovens (entre 18 e 24,9 anos, RP=1,35; IC95%: 1,06-1,71) e de menor escolaridade (um a oito anos, RP=1,39; IC95%: 1,11-1,73) apresentaram maior chance de desenvolver ansiedade. CONCLUSÕES: a prevalência de ansiedade foi elevada nesta amostra de gestantes acompanhadas em uma unidade básica de saúde. O conhecimento dos fatores associados à ansiedade é de fundamental importância para que a equipe multidisciplinar possa intervir de forma precoce e adequada no tratamento das gestantes.<br>OBJECTIVES: to determine the prevalence and the association between socio-demographic, obstetric and nutritional variables and anxiety symptoms in pregnant women. METHODS: the study involved cohorts with five follow-up stages. A cross-sectional analysis was carried out of 151 pregnant women. The presence or absence of anxiety was treated as the dependent variable, which was measured between 19 and 21 weeks of gestation. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAIT) scale was used to evaluate the anxiety trait. The socio-demographic, obstetric and nutritional data obtained using a questionnaire were treated as independent variables. The statistical analysis was performed using a multivariate Poisson regression with robust variance. RESULTS: the mean age was 25 years and mean level of schooling nine years. The prevalence of anxiety was 64.9% (95%CI: 56.7-72.5). The anxiety trait was associated with age between 18 and 24.9 years (PR=1.35; 95%CI: 1.06-1.71) and 1-8 years of schooling (PR=1.39; 95%CI: 1.11-1.73). CONCLUSIONS: it was observed that the anxiety trait was highly prevalent in this sample of pregnant women whose progress was followed at a health care center. Knowledge of the factors associated with the anxiety is of fundamental importance in allowing the health team to intervene in a timely and appropriate fashion in a pregnant woman's treatment

Depressão durante a gestação e os desfechos na saúde do recém-nascido: coorte de mães atendidas em unidade básica de saúde

OBJETIVO: Descrever a associação entre depressão durante a gestação e os efeitos no recém-nascido (baixo peso ao nascer e prematuridade). MÉTODOS: Foi realizado um estudo de coorte, com 100 gestantes atendidas entre março e setembro de 2011 em uma unidade de atenção básica de saúde de Nova Iguaçu. As gestantes responderam sobre características sociodemográficas, condições médicas/obstétricas, eventos estressantes e apoio social. A depressão foi avaliada por meio do Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI). Após o período do pós-parto, as mães responderam às questões sobre baixo peso e prematuridade ao nascer. RESULTADOS: A prevalência da depressão na gravidez foi de 18% (IC95%: 12,2-23,8). Fatores associados com desfecho neonatal foram depressão gestacional (OR: 6,60 IC: 1,51-28,91) e uso de álcool (OR: 8,75 IC: 1,10-69,71). CONCLUSÃO: As implicações do presente estudo para a prática enfatizam a necessidade de triagem para depressão durante a gestação

Ansiedade na gestação, prematuridade e baixo peso ao nascer: uma revisão sistemática da literatura Anxiety during pregnancy, prematurity, and low birth weight: a systematic literature review

O objetivo desta revisão �� examinar publicações que investigaram o efeito da ansiedade no maior risco de prematuridade e/ou baixo peso ao nascer. Os bancos de dados MEDLINE versão PubMed, BVS, CINAHL e HEALTHSTAR, referentes aos anos de 1966 a 2006, foram rastreados usando-se a combinação dos seguintes descritores: anxiety, pregnancy, low birth weight e prematurity. Foram localizados 13 estudos: 11 coortes, 1 transversal e 1 caso-controle. A maioria (7/13) dos estudos foi realizado nos Estados Unidos. Quatro estudos foram considerados de excelente qualidade, pois excluíram adolescentes e/ou mulheres acima de 34 anos, aferiram a ansiedade a partir do primeiro e/ou segundo trimestre de gestação, utilizaram escalas validadas para medir ansiedade, apresentaram perdas de seguimento inferiores a 30% e controlaram os mais importantes fatores de confusão. A ansiedade na gestação foi associada à prematuridade e/ou ao baixo peso ao nascer em oito estudos. Os valores de razão de chance e risco relativo variaram de 1,08 a 2,31. São necessários estudos cuidadosamente desenhados para esclarecer a relação entre ansiedade na gestação, prematuridade e baixo peso ao nascer, já que as evidências observadas ainda são contraditórias.<br>The purpose of this systematic literature review was to examine publications that had investigated the effect of anxiety on prematurity and/or low birth weight. The PubMed, BVS, CINAHL, and HEALTHSTAR databases, published from 1966 to 2006, were tracked using the following key words: "anxiety", "pregnancy", "low birth weight", and "prematurity". Thirteen studies were found: 11 cohorts, 1 cross-sectional, and 1 case-control. Most studies (7/13) were conducted in the United States. The most reliable results came from four studies, whose strengths were: exclusion of adolescents and/or women older than 34 years, studies that analyzed anxiety during the second and/or third trimester of pregnancy, used validated scales to measure anxiety, kept loss-to-follow-up rates below 30%, and applied adequate control of confounders. Anxiety during pregnancy was associated with prematurity and/or low birth weight in eight studies. Odds ratios and relative risks varied from 1.08 to 2.31. Carefully designed and well-conducted studies are still needed to clarify the relationship between anxiety during pregnancy, prematurity, and low birth weight considering that the accumulated evidence remains controversial