Impact of fetal growth restriction on mortality and morbidity in a very preterm birth cohort

Objective To assess the impact of being small for gestational age (SGA) on very preterm mortality and morbidity rates by using different birthweight percentile thresholds and whether these effects differ by the cause of the preterm birth. Study design The study included singletons and twins alive at onset of labor between 24 and 31 weeks of gestation without congenital anomalies from the Models of Organising Access to Intensive Care for very preterm births very preterm cohort in 10 European regions in 2003 (n = 4525). Outcomes were mortality, intraventricular hemorrhage grade III and IV, cystic periventricular leukomalacia, and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Birthweight percentiles in 6 classes were analyzed by pregnancy complication. Results The mortality rate was higher for infants with birthweights Conclusions A 25th percentile cutoff point was a means of identifying infants at higher risk of death and a continuous measure better described risks of BPD. Lower birthweights were associated with poor outcomes regardless of pregnancy complications.