Newborn weight charts underestimate the incidence of low birthweight in preterm infants
Open accessAbstract
Objective The objective of the study was to compare sonographic fetal weight estimates with newborn weight charts and analyze the predictive accuracy of the ponderal index (PI) in preterm infants.Study design We generated sonographic reference curves for fetal weight and PI estimates from a database of fetal biometric records from 12,589 term deliveries. We then plotted sonographic and newborn weight and PI of 2406 preterm newborns on these curves and compared them with published newborn weight charts.Results The third centiles of sonographic and newborn weights diverged markedly between 25 and 36 weeks of gestation and by more than 400 g at 32-33 weeks. In contrast, sonographic and newborn PI values were similar despite uncertainties as to fetal length.Conclusion We suggest using sonographic reference fetal weights to screen preterm newborns for low birthweight. Uncertainties in fetal length threaten the reliability of the PI.
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Exposure to sprayed pesticides in rural South Africa in the first three months of pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of miscarriage (OR 2.8; 95% CI 1.1-7.2).
“Exposure to sprayed pesticides in rural South Africa in the first three months of pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of miscarriage (OR 2·8; 95% CI 1·1-7·2). 94”
From Miscarriage matters: the epidemiological, physical, psychological, and economic costs of early pregnancy loss (2021) · cites this paper as [94]
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References 32 · Cited by 24
- Authors
- Burkhardt, T., Schäffer, L., Zimmermann, R., & Kurmanavicius, J.
- Affiliations
- University Hospital Zurich (CH)
- Corresponding author
- Burkhardt, Tilo
- Venue
- American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2008-08
- Volume
- 199
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 139.e1-139.e6
- ISSN
- 0002-9378 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2165912122
- Cited by
- 24
- References
- 32
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 1 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 1.90
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- doi.org
- Locations
- American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (acceptedVersion)
- Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (submittedVersion)
- Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Pregnancy and preeclampsia studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Birth, Development, and Health
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Maternal and Neonatal Healthcare
- Keywords
- low birth weight, preterm infants, ponderal index, fetal biometry, reference curves, fetal length
- MeSH terms
- Biometry, Female, Humans, Infant, Low Birth Weight, Infant, Newborn, Infant, Premature, Male, Pregnancy, Reproducibility of Results, Incidence, Neonatal Screening, Ultrasonography, Prenatal, Fetal Weight
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