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. 2023 Jun 20;108(12):e324884. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2022-324884

Table 2. Associations between size at birth and nutrition and growth outcomes.

Ref Exposures (size at birth) Population Outcomes Effect size (CI), direction of the association
Small Cont Large
EPT (<28 weeks) ELBW (<1000 g) VPT (<32 weeks) VLBW (<1500 g) PT (<37 weeks) LBW (<2500 g) SGA (<10th percentile) BW (cont.) GA (cont.) Post term (>41 weeks) HBW (>4000 g) LGA (>90th percentile)
Body composition
155 X Infants Length (cm) MD=−3.71 (−4.60 to –2.81)
85 X 11 years Height (cm) z-score difference=−0.92 (−0.03), p<0.001
155 X Infants Weight (kg) MD=−0.59 (−0.75 to –0.44)
85 X 11 years Weight (kg) z-score difference=−0.61 (0.18), p<0.001
155 X Infants Head circumference (cm) MD=−1.03 (−1.52 to –0.54)
85 X 11 years Head circumference (cm) z-score difference=−1.52 (0.44), p<0.001
85 X 11 years Body surface area z-score difference=−0.10 (−0.01), p<0.001
155 X Infants Total body fat (%) MD=3.06 (0.25 to 5.88)
156 X 4–7 years Total body fat (%) SMD=−3.05 (−8.73 to 2.62)
155 X Infants Fat mass (kg) MD=−0.05 (−0.09 to –0.01)
155 X Infants Fat-free mass (kg) MD=−0.46 (−0.64 to –0.27)
156 X 4–7 years Fat mass index SMD=−1.31 (−5.42 to 2.81)
156 X 4–7 years Childhood Trunk Fat Index SMD=1.03 (−1.64 to 3.71)
157 ** At birth Cord blood adiponectin concentrations SMD=−1.14 (−2.15 to –0.12)
157 * At birth Cord blood adiponectin concentrations SMD=−1.93 (−4.093 to –0.022)
157 X At birth Cord blood adiponectin concentrations SMD=−0.383 (−0.744 to –0.022)
158 X 0.5 hours–11 days Total body water (%) MD=4.40 (2.83 to 5.96)
158 X 6 hours–7 days Total body water (%) β=−1.44 (−0.63 to –2.24) per week
158 X 0.5 hours–11 days Total body water (%) MD=−5.23 (−4.54 to –5.91)
Bone mineralisation
159 X 10 years Bone mass content β=0.02 (0.01 to 0.04)
159 X 10 years Bone mass density β=0.01 (−0.01 to 0.03)
BMI
84 X 6–32 years BMI (kg/m2) MD=−0.50 (−1.10 to 0.09)
84 X 5–30 years BMI (kg/m2) MD=−0.30 (−0.54 to –0.05)
84 X 4.5–35.7 years BMI (kg/m2) MD=−0.13 (−0.40 to 0.14)
84 X <10 years BMI (kg/m2) MD=−0.70(−1.13 to –2.28)
84 X <19 years BMI (kg/m2) MD=5.20 (−3.82 to 14.21)
84 X 10–19 years BMI (kg/m2) MD=−0.25 (−0.76 to 0.26)
91 XGA 16.0–46.9 years BMI (kg/m2) β=0.52 (0.20 to 0.84)/kg increase
91 GA 16.0–46.9 years BMI (kg/m2) β=0.51 (−0.08 to 1.11)/kg increase
91 X 16.0–46.9 years BMI (kg/m2) β=0.52 (0.17 to 0.86)/kg increase
77 T 0–2 years BMI trajectory: class 2 (rapid growth to 2 years) aOR=2.02 (1.49 to 2.74)
77 T 0–6 years BMI trajectory: class 3 (persistent rapid growth to 6 years) aOR=1.89 (0.42 to 8.49)
77 ◊ 0–2 years BMI trajectory: class 2 (rapid growth) aOR=1.48 (1.05 to 2.10)
77 ◊ 0–6 years BMI trajectory: class 3 (persistent rapid growth) aOR=0.78 (0.10 to 6.45)
77 X 0–2 years BMI trajectory: class 2 (rapid growth) aOR=0.81 (0.68 to 0.96)
77 X 0–6 years BMI trajectory: class 3 (persistent rapid growth) aOR=0.48 (0.15 to 1.53)
77 T 0–2 years BMI trajectory: class 2 (rapid growth) aOR=0.98 (0.86 to 1.12)
77 T 0–6 years BMI trajectory: class 3 (persistent rapid growth) aOR=1.62 (0.88 to 2.99)
Undernutrition
160 X 12–60 months Wasting (weight for length/height for age <2 z-scores) OR=1.55 (1.21 to 1.97)
160 X 12–60 months Wasting (weight for length/height for age <2 z-scores) OR=2.68 (2.23 to 3.21)
160 X 12–60 months Wasting (weight for length/height for age<2 z-scores) OR=2.36 (2.14 to 2.60)
160 X 12–60 months Stunting (length/height for age<2 z-scores) OR=1.69 (1.48 to 1.93)
160 X 12–60 months Stunting (length/height for age<2 z-scores) OR=2.92 (2.56 to 3.33)
160 X 12–60 months Stunting (length/height for age<2 z-scores) OR=2.32 (2.12 to 2.54)
160 X 12–60 months Underweight (weight for age less than 2 z-scores) OR=1.66 (1.42 to 1.95)
160 X 12c60 months Underweight (weight for age less than 2 z-scores) OR=3.48 (3.14 to 3.87)
160 X 12–60 months Underweight (weight for age less than 2 z-scores) OR=2.96 (2.61 to 3.36)
Overnutrition
161 X 0–18 years Overweight OR=0.60 (0.54 to 0.67)
161 X 1–75 years Overweight β=0.34 (0.28 to 0.40)/kg increase
161 X 0–18 years Overweight OR=1.76 (1.65 to 1.87)
156 X 6–14 years Obesity OR=1.19 (1.13 to 1.26)
162 ◊ 3–18 years Obesity OR=0.87 (0.69 to 1.08)
162 X 1–17 years Obesity OR=0.61 (0.46 to 0.80)
162 X <6 years Obesity OR=0.61 (0.43 to 0.88)
162 X 6–13 years Obesity OR=0.54 (0.32 to 0.90)
162 X 13–17 years Obesity OR=0.74 (0.37 to 1.49)
163 X 7–11 years Obesity β=0.649/kg increase
162 ◊ 1–16 years Obesity OR=2.23 (1.91 to 2.61)
162 X 0–17 years Obesity OR=2.07 (1.91 to 2.24)
162 X <6 years Obesity OR=2.10 (1.93 to 2.29)
162 X 6–13 years Obesity OR=1.76 (1.36 to 2.20)
162 X 13–17 years Obesity OR=2.58 (1.56 to 4.26)

Exposures: EPT (<28 weeks), ELBW (<1000 g), VPT (<32 weeks), VLBW (<1500 g), PT (<37 weeks), LBW (<2500 g), SGA (<10th percentile), post term (>41 weeks), HBW (>4000 g) and LGA (>90th percentile).

Symbols in exposures: X, as defined in exposure; XGA, adjusted and unadjusted for GA; GA, BW adjusted for GA; **, SGA <3rd, 5th and 10th percentile/value×by SD for GA; *, SGA <3rd percentile/value×by SD for GA; ◊, reference category 2500–4000 g; T, reference category GA 37≤term≤41.

Outcomes: Inline graphic, harmful effect; Inline graphic, no effect; Inline graphic, beneficial effect; italic, calculation/post review.

aORadjusted ORBMIbody mass indexBWbirth weightBW (cont.)birth weight continuousELBWextremely low birth weightEPTextremely pretermGAgestational ageGA (cont.)gestational age continuousHBWhigh birth weightLBWlow birth weightLGAlarge for gestational ageMDmean differencePTpretermSGAsmall for gestational ageSMDstandardised mean differenceVLBWvery low birth weightVPTvery preterm