ArticlePediatric research2026
Postnatal growth trajectories of very preterm appropriate-for-gestational-age infants from term-equivalent age to 6 years.
Article in Pediatric research, 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
12 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundVery preterm infants born before 32 weeks of gestation remain vulnerable to postnatal growth impairment. However, longitudinal data focusing on appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) infants are limited. Standard growth references may inadequately reflect the developmental trajectories of this population.
methodsWe constructed sex-specific growth curves for height, weight, body mass index, and head circumference from term-equivalent age to 6 years postmenstrual age in AGA infants born at <32 weeks of gestation without neurodevelopmental impairments. These trajectories were compared with Japanese national growth standards.
resultsInfants born before 28 weeks of gestation demonstrated significantly reduced growth relative to national standards, with the greatest deviation occurring between 40 and 60 weeks postmenstrual age. While gradual catch-up growth was observed thereafter, full alignment with standard curves was not achieved. Lower gestational age correlated with more pronounced deficits across all anthropometric parameters. Head circumference remained notably reduced among infants born before 25 weeks, raising concern for potential neurodevelopmental implications.
conclusionsExtremely preterm AGA infants experience persistent growth deficits through early childhood. These findings underscore the importance of long-term growth surveillance and early intervention strategies to support optimal physical and neurological outcomes in this high-risk population. IMPACT: Many extremely preterm infants grow more slowly than expected well into early childhood. Babies born earlier in pregnancy show more delayed physical growth across all measures. Infants born before 25 weeks may have a smaller head size, raising concerns for brain development.
Identifiers
41807698What 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.