Table 1.
Characteristics of patients with and without gastrostomy tube placement1
| Variables | Total N=4549 |
No GT N=4216 |
GT N=333 |
P-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baseline characteristics | ||||
| Gestational Age, mean (SD) | 25.73 (1.30) | 25.76 (1.30) | 25.43 (1.30) | <0.01 |
| Small for Gestational Age, n (%) | 315 (7) | 277 (7) | 38 (11) | <0.01 |
| Male, n (%) | 2245 (49) | 2083 (49) | 162 (49) | 0.86 |
| White, n (%) | 2390 (53) | 2203 (53) | 187 (58) | 0.13 |
| Hispanic, n (%) | 751 (17) | 700 (17) | 51 (16) | 0.54 |
| High School degree, n (%) | 2601 (76) | 2417 (76) | 184 (74) | 0.49 |
| Neonatal characteristics | ||||
| Length of hospital stay (days), mean (SD) | 112 (46) | 108 (40) | 169 (72) | <0.01 |
| NEC, n (%) | 250 (5) | 228 (5) | 22 (7) | 0.38 |
| BPD, n (%) | 2288 (51) | 2035 (49) | 253 (77) | <0.01 |
| Severe IVH (grade III or IV) or PVL, n (%) | 745 (16) | 649 (15) | 96 (29) | <0.01 |
| Weight Z-score at 36 weeks, mean (SD) | −1.41 (0.83) | −1.39 (0.83) | −1.62 (0.87) | <0.01 |
| Length Z-score at 36 weeks, mean (SD) | −1.94 (0.92) | −1.91 (0.92) | −2.26 (0.94) | <0.01 |
| Head circumference Z-score at 36 weeks, mean (SD) | −1.34 (1.03) | −1.31 (1.03) | −1.71 (1.01) | <0.01 |
| Outcomes at follow-up | ||||
| Weight Z-score at follow-up, mean (SD) | −1.02 (1.32) | −0.98 (1.30) | −1.59 (1.51) | <0.01 |
| Length Z-score at follow-up, mean (SD) | −0.67 (1.31) | −0.62 (1.31) | −1.32 (1.18) | <0.01 |
| Head circumference Z-score at follow-up, mean (SD) | −0.55 (1.62) | −0.49 (1.60) | −1.32 (1.69) | <0.01 |
| Follow-up weight < 10th %, n (%) | 1852 (41) | 1669 (40) | 183 (56) | <0.01 |
| Follow-up height <10th %, n (%) | 1255 (28) | 1087 (26) | 168 (51) | <0.01 |
| Follow-up Head circumference < 10th %, n (%) | 1216 (27) | 1063 (25) | 153 (47) | <0.01 |
| Weight gain velocity2 (g/mo), mean (SD) | 414.53 (177.09) | 416.24 (182.97) | 394.78 (81.39) | <0.01 |
| Length gain velocity2 (cm/mo), mean (SD) | 1.88 (0.74) | 1.88 (0.76) | 1.82 (0.24) | <0.01 |
| Head circumference gain velocity4 (cm/mo), mean (SD) | 0.77 (0.30) | 0.77 (0.31) | 0.76 (0.15) | 0.31 |
| NDI3, n (%) | 1420 (31) | 1217 (29) | 203 (61) | <0.01 |
| Moderate/severe cerebral palsy, n (%) | 271 (6) | 199 (5) | 72 (22) | <0.01 |
| BSID III Cognitive <70, n (%) | 424 (9) | 315 (8) | 109 (34) | <0.01 |
| BSID III Cognitive <85, n (%) | 1300 (29) | 1117 (27) | 183 (56) | <0.01 |
| BSID III Language <70, n (%) | 787 (18) | 646 (16) | 141 (44) | <0.01 |
| Chronic breathing problems, n (%) | 1318 (32) | 1139 (30) | 179 (55) | <0.01 |
| Chronic feeding problems, n (%) | 1281 (28) | 1085 (26) | 196 (59) | <0.01 |
1
n (%) and mean (SD) scores were calculated based on non-missing responses.
2
Velocity is calculated from 36 weeks to follow-up.
3
NDI was defined as any of the following: a cognitive composite score on the BSID III <85, moderate-to-severe CP, GMFCS level >2, severe hearing impairment, or bilateral severe visual impairment.