Abstract
Objectives:
to investigate the association between Vertically Transmitted Infections (VTI) and Extrauterine Growth Restriction (EUGR) among premature infants in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU).
Methods:
part of a large non-concurrent cohort study with medical records analysis. We evaluated EUGR in premature infants at a gestational age at birth of > 32 weeks and <36 weeks and presented a corrected gestational age of 36 completed weeks during a 27-day birth follow-up. Premature infants with major congenital anomalies were excluded. We analyzed associations among EUGR, VTI and covariables related to maternal disease, birth characteristics, perinatal morbidities and clinical practices.
Results:
out of the 91 premature infants, 59.3% (CI95%=48.9-69.0%) developed EUGR. VTI were observed in 4.4%o of the population; all premature infants affected by VTI had EUGR. The VTI found were syphilis, cytomegalovirus disease and toxoplasmosis. The final analysis has showed a positive association between VTI and EUGR (RR=1.57; CI95%o=1.07-2.30); the female covariables (RR=1.50; CI95%=1.11-2.02), moderate premature classification (RR=1.41; CI95%=1.06-1.87) and small for gestational age (RR=2.69; CI95% 1.853.90) have also influenced this outcome.
Conclusion:
this study revealed VTI as an important morbidity factor, with impact on the increased risk of EUGR between premature infants affected by these diseases.
Key words:
Premature infant; Growth; Malnutrition; Vertical transmission