A Study on the Impact of Catching Growth Rate on Neuropsychological Development in Premature Infants

Manman LI; Di ZHANG; Lihua LI

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Manman LI, Di ZHANG, Lihua LI. A Study on the Impact of Catching Growth Rate on Neuropsychological Development in Premature Infants[J]. Journal of Kunming Medical University.

Citation:

Manman LI, Di ZHANG, Lihua LI. A Study on the Impact of Catching Growth Rate on Neuropsychological Development in Premature Infants[J]. Journal of Kunming Medical University.

Manman LI, Di ZHANG, Lihua LI. A Study on the Impact of Catching Growth Rate on Neuropsychological Development in Premature Infants[J]. Journal of Kunming Medical University.

Citation:

Manman LI, Di ZHANG, Lihua LI. A Study on the Impact of Catching Growth Rate on Neuropsychological Development in Premature Infants[J]. Journal of Kunming Medical University.

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A Study on the Impact of Catching Growth Rate on Neuropsychological Development in Premature Infants

Manman LI¹,
Di ZHANG²,
Lihua LI^{1
,
,}

1.
Children’s Center，Beijing Luhe Hospital，Capital Medical University，Beijing 101149
2.
Department of Pediatrics，Beijing Tsinghua Changgeng Hospital，Tsinghua University，Beijing 102218，China

Received Date: 2025-12-29
Available Online: 2026-06-12

Abstract

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effects of catch-up growth velocity on neuropsychological development in preterm infants, and to clarify the heterogeneity of neurodevelopmental responses to catch-up growth between preterm small for gestational age （SGA） and appropriate for gestational age （AGA） infants. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 140 preterm infants with gestational age <34 weeks and complete follow-up data, who were admitted to Beijing Luhe Hospital, Capital Medical University between January 2020 and December 2022. Anthropometric measurements were collected at corrected age 0 to 12 months, and neuropsychological development was assessed at corrected age 6 and 12 months. Multiple linear regression was used to analyze the associations and test for between-group heterogeneity in effects. Results Most preterm infants with gestational age <34 weeks achieved catch-up growth by corrected age 12 months, with weight demonstrating the best catch-up and head circumference the slowest. After multivariate adjustment, weight growth velocity at corrected age 0 to 3 months was significantly positively correlated with multidimensional neurodevelopment at 12 months in the AGA group. In the SGA group, head circumference growth velocity at corrected age 0 to 3 months was significantly positively correlated with multiple neurodevelopmental indicators at 12 months; furthermore, head circumference and weight growth velocities at 3 to 6 months and 6 to 12 months also had independent effects on multidimensional neurodevelopment. Interaction term analysis confirmed significant heterogeneity in neurodevelopmental responses to early catch-up growth between the two groups. Conclusion Most preterm infants with gestational age <34 weeks achieve catch-up growth by corrected age 12 months. Head circumference and weight catch-up growth velocities are independent predictors of neuropsychological development in preterm infants, and SGA infants exhibit earlier and more extensive neurodevelopmental responses to catch-up growth.
- Neuropsychological development,
- Preterm infants,
- Small for gestational age,
- Catch-up growth velocity

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References(22)

References

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