ArticleBMJ paediatrics open2026
Comparative impact of early versus late growth on neurodevelopment in neonates.
Article in BMJ paediatrics open, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundAdverse neurodevelopmental outcomes are linked to preterm birth. Although survival rates have improved due to advancements in newborn care, long-term developmental outcomes continue to be a concern.
methodsThis retrospective study examines the relationship between anthropometric measures, including weight, head circumference (HC) and length z-scores, at birth, discharge and follow-up and motor and cognitive development, using data from 562 preterm infants who were monitored for at least 1 year after discharge. Neurodevelopmental outcomes were measured using the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) and the Developmental Assessment Scale for Indian Infants.
resultsHigher discharge z-scores for weight, length and HC were significantly associated with improved AIMS scores at 3 months of corrected age, with weight (β=0.94, 95% CI 0.40 to 1.50, p<0.001), length (β=0.67, 95% CI 0.19 to 1.1, p=0.006) and HC (β=0.77, 95% CI 0.19 to 1.4, p=0.010) all showing strong positive associations. Similarly, higher discharge z-scores for these parameters remained associated with better AIMS scores at 6 months and 12 months. Catch-up growth observed at these time points did not influence the outcome (p>0.05).
conclusionThe results of our study lead us to conclude that growth during the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) stay is more important than post-discharge catch-up growth. This highlights the crucial role of early nutritional and growth support in shaping later motor development. This suggests that the care and nutrition provided during the NICU period have lasting effects on developmental trajectories. Ensuring optimal growth before discharge should therefore be a key focus of neonatal care to improve long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.