Racial differences in growth rates and body composition of infants born preterm

Maggie Jerome, Paula Chandler-Laney, Olivia Affuso, Peng Li, Ariel A. Salas

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate racial disparities in weight gain velocity and body composition among preterm infants. Study design: This observational study analyzed race differences in fat-free mass (FFM), fat mass (FM), percent body fat (%BF), and weight gain at discharge of infants born at 25–32 weeks of gestation. Results: No racial differences in FFM, FM and %BF measurements were found between black and white preterm infants after adjusting for birth weight, gestational age, and the presence/absence of breastfeeding (n = 143). Black infants born preterm had lower birthweights and higher weight gain from birth to discharge in unadjusted and adjusted models (13 ± 3 vs. 11 ± 3 g/kg/day; <0.001). Conclusion: Black infants had higher weight gain from birth to discharge, but comparable body composition measurements at discharge. More research is needed to understand contributing factors and long-term implications of this finding.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)385-388
Number of pages4
JournalJournal of Perinatology
Volume42
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2022
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology

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