Very low birth weight preterm infants are at risk for hypoglycemia once on total enteral nutrition. (17th April 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Staffler, Alex; Klemme, Mathias; Mola-Schenzle, Elisa; Mittal, Rashmi; Schulze, Andreas; Flemmer, Andreas W.
• Is Part Of: Journal of maternal-fetal & neonatal medicine. Volume 26:Number 13(2013)
• Page Start: 1337
• Page End: 1341
• Publication Date: 2013-04-17
• Subjects: Carbohydrate intake -- enteral nutrition -- gestational age -- hypoglycemic episodes -- preterm infant; Obstetrics -- Periodicals; Perinatology -- Periodicals; Infants (Newborn) -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Neonatology -- Periodicals; 618.2
• DOI: 10.3109/14767058.2013.784250
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1476-7058

Abstract

Abstract: Objective : To determine the occurrence of hypoglycemic episodes in very low birth weight preterm infants under total enteral nutrition and identify potential risk factors. Methods : In this single centre cohort study, we analyzed the patients' charts of preterm infants with a gestational age <32 weeks ( n = 98). Infants were analyzed in two groups (group 1: birth weight <1000 g, n = 54; group 2: birth weight 1000–1499 g, n = 44). A total of 3640 pre-feeding blood glucose measurements were screened. Risk factors for the development of hypoglycemia were identified by linear and multiple logistic regression analyses. Results : In group 1, 44% (24 of 54) of infants experienced at least one asymptomatic episode of blood glucose <45 mg/dl (<2.5 mmol/l) as compared with 23% (10 of 44) in group 2. Regression analysis identified low gestational age and high carbohydrate intake as potential risk factors for the development of hypoglycemia. Conclusions : Our results indicate that numerous preterm infants experience hypoglycemic episodes once on total enteral nutrition, especially those who are <1000 g at birth and those with a higher carbohydrate intake. Further studies evaluating a possible impact of these common although asymptomatic episodes on later development could help to better define thresholds that should be considered as "hypoglycemia" in this population.