Table 3.
Demographic and biochemical characteristics of neonates at birth, categorized by birth weight
| Variables | Overall | Low birth weight (weight < 2500 g) |
Normal birth weight (weight ≥ 2500 g) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number, % a | 138 | 16 (11.6) | 122 (88.4) |
| Sex (male), n, % a | 74 (53.6) | 5 (31.3) | 69 (56.6) |
| Preterm (< 37 weeks), n, % a | 8 (5.8) | 3 (18.8) | 5 (4.1) * |
| Delivery (caesarian section), n, % a | 90 (65.2) | 8 (50.0) | 82 (67.2) |
| Gestational age at delivery (weeks) b | 40.2 (1.6) | 40.4 (2.6) | 40.2 (1.4) |
| Weight (gram) b | 2814 (404) | 2146 (166) | 2899 (342) * |
| Length (cm) b | 45.9 (2.7) | 43.6 (2.8) | 46.3 (2.5) * |
| Weight for height (kg/m2) b | 13.4 (1.7) | 11.3 (1.0) | 13.6 (1.6) * |
| Head circumference (cm) b | 33.1 (1.4) | 31.4 (1.4) | 33.3 (1.3) * |
| MUAC (cm) b | 9.8 (0.8) | 9.1 (0.7) | 9.9 (0.8) * |
| Ponderal index b | 2.9 (0.5) | 2.6 (0.4) | 3.0 (0.5) * |
| Biochemical parameters | |||
| Blood glucose (mmol/l) c | 3.8 (3.3, 5.1) | 4.3 (3.2, 5.1) | 3.8 (3.3, 5.1) |
| Insulin (μIU/ml) c | 6.5 (5.0, 11.5) | 5.6 (3.5, 15.1) | 6.6 (4.6, 11.4) |
| HOMA-IR c | 1.18 (0.74, 2.30) | 1.23 (0.56, 2.85) | 1.18 (0.74, 2.27) |
| Glucose to insulin ratio c | 10.6 (7.1, 15.6) | 10.9 (6.1, 17.9) | 10.5 (7.4, 15.2) |
| Cholesterol (mg/dl) c | 66.0 (56.0, 78.0) | 64.0 (47.0, 77.0) | 66.0 (56.3, 78.8) |
| Triglycerides (mg/dl) c | 35.0 (26.0, 50.0) | 48.0 (28.0, 76.0) | 34.5 (25.3, 48.0) |
| HDL-C (mg/dl) c | 23.0 (19.0, 30.0) | 19.0 (16.0, 29.0) | 24.0 (20.0, 30.0) |
| LDL-C (mg/dl) c | 33.0 (25.0, 41.0) | 32.0 (17.0, 39.0) | 33.0 (25.0, 41.0) |
| Vitamin D (nmol/l) c | 33.9 (28.3, 45.2) | 31.2 (27.8, 45.3) | 34.5 (28.7, 45.2) |
| Vitamin B12 (pg/ml) c | 417.0 (329.3, 640.3) | 414.0 (258.5, 669.0) | 421.0 (340.0, 629.5) |
| Homocysteine (μmol/l) c | 5.0 (4.0, 6.4) | 5.5 (4.5, 6.9) | 5.0 (4.0, 6.3) |
| Folate (ng/ml) c | 16.8 (14.2, 21.8) | 13.7 (12.3, 20.3) | 16.8 (14.4, 22.2) |
| Ferritin (ng/ml) c | 119.0 (58.8, 197.0) | 112.0 (61.1, 155.0) | 127.0 (59.3, 200.0) |
| Leptin (ng/ml) c | 5.1 (3.0, 7.8) | 5.3 (2.9, 7.1) | 5.1 (3.0, 8.1) |
Data are presented as a number (%) or b mean (SD) or c median (interquartile range) where appropriate. Biochemical assays were all measured in serum. *p-value < 0.05 compared with LBW. Abbreviation: LBW low birth weight, MUAC mid upper arm circumference, HOMA-IR homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, HDL-C high density lipoprotein cholesterol, LDL-C low density lipoprotein cholesterol