@article {ScharfF433, author = {Rebecca J Scharf and Annemarie Stroustrup and Mark R Conaway and Mark D DeBoer}, title = {Growth and development in children born very low birthweight}, volume = {101}, number = {5}, pages = {F433--F438}, year = {2016}, doi = {10.1136/archdischild-2015-309427}, publisher = {BMJ Publishing Group}, abstract = {Objective To examine the relationships between growth (birth to age 2 years) and developmental outcomes in children born with very low birthweight (VLBW).Design Motor and mental development in children born with VLBW were regressed on anthropometric measurements at birth, 9 months and 2 years using multivariable regression.Setting The Early Childhood Longitudinal Study{\textemdash}Birth Cohort, a longitudinal cohort, community sample, designed to be representative of children born across the USA.Patients 950 children born with VLBW (\<1500 g).Main Outcome Measures Motor and cognitive scores on the Bayley Scales at 9 months and 24 months chronological age.Results A high proportion of children exhibited poor growth, with length-for-age z-scores \<-2 (ie, stunting) in 21.3\% of children at 9 months (adjusted for prematurity) and 34.2\% of children at 2 years. Compared with children having z-scores \>-2, children with growth shortfalls in head circumference, length and weight had a higher adjusted OR (aOR) of low Bayley motor scores at 9 months and 2 years (aOR ranging from 1.8 to 3.3, all p\<0.05), while low Bayley cognitive scores were predicted by 9-month deficits in length and weight (aOR 2.0 and 2.4, respectively, both p\<0.01) and 2-year deficits in length and head circumference (aOR 2.9 and 2.8, both p\<0.05).Conclusion Anthropometric measures of growth were linked to current and future neurodevelopmental outcomes in children born with VLBW. While careful length measures may be a particularly useful marker, deficits in all anthropometric measures were risk factors for developmental delays.}, issn = {1359-2998}, URL = {https://fn.bmj.com/content/101/5/F433}, eprint = {https://fn.bmj.com/content/101/5/F433.full.pdf}, journal = {Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition} }