Physical growth of 5-year-old children with a low birth weight. Stature, weight, circumference of head and osseous development.

In a prospective investigation of the physical growth of children with a low birth weight, 143 unselected children who weighed less than 2500 g at birth were reviewed at 5 years of age. The children were grouped according to weight relative to gestational age. Stature and weight were compared with normal curves for Swedish children and with a control series. The circumference of the head was compared with a normal curve. Osseous development was assessed by the method of Eklöf & Ringertz and was compared with their normal values. Growth of the LBW-children was slightly retarded in respect of stature, weight and osseous development, but not regarding head circumference. The values found for stature and osseous development were low in the group small for gestational age and for twins. Those LBW-children who were appropriate for gestational age developed at a normal rate. This is true even for those with the lowest birth weight and those born long before term. Osseous development was correlated with stature, which may be due to the measuring method used. Neither maternal disease nor feeding difficulties during the first few months of life had any demonstrable effect on the physical development of the children. Socio-economic factors now surely play at most a subordinate role. Physical development of the children varied most with the mothers' stature and weight and probably with hereditary factors.