Fig. 5. Growth faltering in early life increases risk of more severe growth faltering and mortality.

a, Adjusted differences in linear growth velocity across three-month age bands by quartile of WLZ in the preceding three months. The reference group (horizontal line) comprises children in the first quartile of WLZ in each age stratum. Far right, pooled estimates unstratified by child age. Velocity was calculated from the closest measurements within 14 days of the start and end of the age period. b, Relative risk of stunting onset between 6 and 24 months of age among children who experienced measures of early wasting before 6 months of age compared with children who did not. Grey dots indicate cohort-specific estimates. c, Association between cumulative incidence of mutually exclusive definitions of growth faltering before 6 months of age and persistent wasting from 6 to 24 months of age (33 cohorts, 6,046 cases and 68,645 children) or concurrent wasting and stunting at 18 months of age (31 cohorts, 1,447 cases, and 22,565 children). The reference group (vertical dashed line) comprises children with no measure of growth failure. Growth faltering definitions are sorted by estimates in d. d, Hazard ratios between mutually exclusive definitions of growth faltering and mortality before 24 months of age (8 cohorts, 1,689 deaths with known age of death, and 63,812 children). The reference group (vertical dashed line) comprises children with no measure of growth failure. Grey dots indicate cohort-specific estimates. Mod, moderately; sev, severely.