Customised birthweight models: Do they increase identification of at‐risk infants?. Issue 5 (22nd April 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gibbons, Kristen; Chang, Allan; Flenady, Vicki; Mahomed, Kassam; Gardener, Glenn; Gray, Peter H; Beckmann, Michael; Rossouw, Dominique
• Is Part Of: Journal of paediatrics and child health. Volume 49:Issue 5(2013:May)
• Page Start: 380
• Page End: 387
• Publication Date: 2013-04-22
• Subjects: Children -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; 618.92
• DOI: 10.1111/jpc.12189
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1034-4810

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="jpc12189-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Aim</title> <p>The study aims to describe the cohort of women and babies who are classified as small‐for‐gestational age (SGA) at term by both an Australian customised birthweight model (CBM) and a commonly used population‐based standard, and to investigate and compare the utility of these models in identifying babies at risk of experiencing adverse outcomes</p> </sec> <sec id="jpc12189-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Routinely collected data on 54 890 singleton‐term births at the Mater Mothers' Hospitals, Brisbane, with birthweight less than 4000 g between January 1997 and December 2008, was extracted. Each birth was classified as SGA (<10th centile) or not SGA by either and/or both methods: population‐based standards (SGA<sub>pop</sub>) and CBM (SGA<sub>cust</sub>). Babies classified as SGA<sub>pop</sub>, SGA<sub>cust</sub> or SGA<sub>both</sub> were compared with those not classified as SGA by both methods using relative risk and 95% confidence interval, and those only classified as SGA<sub>cust</sub> were compared with those only classified as SGA<sub>pop</sub>. Maternal demographics, maternal risk factors for fetal growth restriction, pregnancy and labour complications and adverse neonatal outcomes are reported.</p> </sec> <sec id="jpc12189-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p> A total of 4768 (8.7%) births were classified as SGA<sub>pop</sub>, while 6479 (11.8%) were SGA<sub>cust</sub> of whom 4138 (63.9%) were also classified as SGA<sub>pop</sub>. Maternal risk factors such as smoking and hypertension were statistically higher for the SGA<sub>cust</sub> group when compared with SGA<sub>pop</sub>. For the majority of adverse neonatal outcomes, a trend was noted to increased identification using the CBM.</p> </sec> <sec id="jpc12189-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>The CBM provides a modest improvement when compared to a population‐based standard to identity term infants at birth who are at risk of adverse neonatal outcomes.</p> </sec> </abstract>