Aim: To study the effect of catch-up growth in the 1st year on cognition, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), problem behavior and growth in young adults. Methods: We included individuals without severe complications and born small for gestational age (SGA; n = 228 for weight, n = 203 for length) or with a low head circumference (HC, n = 178) or a low weight adjusted for length (n = 64) in the Collaborative Project on Preterm and SGA Infants. Neonatal growth was standardized (standard deviation scores for gestational age, SDSGA) according to GA-specific reference charts. Catch-up growth was defined as SDSGA at 1 year of age adjusted for SDSGA at birth. Cognition was defined by the Multicultural Capacity Test-Intermediate Level, HRQoL by the London Handicap Scale (LHS) and the Health Utility Index Mark 3 categorized into 4 levels (Multi-Attribute Utility, MAU), and problem behavior by the Young Adult Self-Report. We adjusted for potential confounders. Results: Most adults were born preterm (93.7%). A higher catch-up growth in the 1st year was associated with better cognition (B = 2.57, 95% CI 0.08-5.05 for weight), less disabilities according to the LHS (B = 2.06, 95% CI 0.35-3.78 for HC) and the MAU (OR = 0.67, 95% CI 0.48-0.95 for HC) and higher final height (B = 0.33, 95% CI 0.18-0.47 for weight; B = 0.41, 95% 0.28-0.55 for length, and B = 0.18, 95% CI 0.04-0.33 for HC) in young adulthood. Conclusion: There are long-term benefits of catch-up growth.

Keywords:
Catch-up growth, Cognition, Growth, Quality of life, Small-for-gestational-age infants
1.
Tyson JE, Saigal S: Outcomes for extremely low-birth-weight infants: disappointing news. JAMA 2005;294:371-373.
2.
Veen S, Ens-Dokkum MH, Schreuder AM, Verloove-Vanhorick SP, Brand R, Ruys JH: Impairments, disabilities, and handicaps of very preterm and very-low-birthweight infants at five years of age. The Collaborative Project on Preterm and Small for Gestational Age Infants (POPS) in The Netherlands. Lancet 1991;338:33-36.
3.
Hille ET, Weisglas-Kuperus N, van Goudoever JB, Jacobusse GW, Ens-Dokkum MH, de Groot L, Wit JM, Geven WB, Kok JH, de Kleine MJ, Kollée LA, Mulder AL, van Straaten HL, de Vries LS, van Weissenbruch MM, Verloove-Vanhorick SP: Functional outcomes and participation in young adulthood for very preterm and very low birth weight infants: the Dutch project on preterm and small for gestational age infants at 19 years of age. Pediatrics 2007;120:e587-e595.
4.
Verrips E, Vogels T, Saigal S, Wolke D, Meyer R, Hoult L, Verloove-Vanhorick SP: Health-related quality of life for extremely low birth weight adolescents in Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands. Pediatrics 2008;122:556-561.
5.
Stoelhorst GM, Rijken M, Martens SE, Brand R, den Ouden AL, Wit JM, Veen S: Leiden Follow-Up Project on Prematurity. Changes in neonatology: comparison of two cohorts of very preterm infants (gestational age <32 weeks): the Project on Preterm and Small for Gestational Age Infants 1983 and the Leiden Follow-Up Project on Prematurity 1996-1997. Pediatr 2005;115:396-405.
6.
Hack M: Adult outcomes of preterm children. J Dev Behav Pediatr 2009;30:460-470.
7.
Platt MJ: Outcomes in preterm infants. Public Health 2014;128:399-403.
8.
Bocca-Tjeertes IFA, van Buuren S, Bos AF, Kerstjens JM, ten Vergert EM, Reijneveld SA: Growth of preterm and full-term children aged 0-4 years: integrating median growth and variability in growth charts. J Pediatr 2012;161:460.e1-465.e1.
9.
Clayton PE, Cianfarani S, Czernichow P, Johannsson G, Rapaport R, Rogol A: Management of the child born small for gestational age through to adulthood: a consensus statement of the International Societies of Pediatric Endocrinology and the Growth Hormone Research Society. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2007;92:804-810.
10.
Victora CG, Barros FC, Horta BL, Martorell R: Short-term benefits of catch-up growth for small-for-gestational-age infants. Int J Epidemiol 2001;30:1325-1330.
11.
Verloove-Vanhorick SP, Verwey RA, Brand R, Bennebroek Gravenhorst J, Keirse MJNC, Ruys JH: Neonatal mortality in relation to gestational age and birth weight. Results of a national survey of preterm and very-low-birth weight infants in the Netherlands. Lancet 1986;1:55-57.
12.
Hille ET, Elbertse L, Gravenhorst JB, Brand R, Verloove-Vanhorick SP: Nonresponse bias in a follow-up study of 19-year-old adolescents born as preterm infants. Pediatrics 2005;116: e662-e666.
13.
Bleichrodt N, Berg RH: Multicultural Capacity Test: Intermediate Level (MCT-M) - Manual. Amsterdam, NOA, 2000.
14.
Horsman J, Furlong W, Feeny D, Torrance G: The Health Utilities Index (HUI): concepts, measurement properties and applications. Health Qual Life Outcomes 2003;1:54.
15.
Feeny D, Furlong W, Torrance GW, Goldsmith CH, Zhu Z, de Pauw S, Denton M, Boyle M: Multiattribute and single-attribute utility functions for the Health Utilities Index Mark 3 system. Med Care 2002;40:113-128.
16.
Harwood RH, Rogers A, Dickinson E, Ebrahim S: Measuring handicap: the London Handicap Scale, a new outcome measure for chronic disease. Qual Health Care 1994;3:11-16.
17.
Groothuis-Oudshoorn CGM, Chorus AMJ, Taeke van Beekum W, Detmar SB, van den Hout WB: Modelling and estimation of valuations for the Dutch London Handicap Scale. J Health Econ 2006;25:1119-1138.
18.
Achenbach TM: Manual for the Young Adult Self-Report and Young Adult Behavior Checklist. Burlington, University of Vermont Department of Psychiatry, 1997.
19.
Fredriks AM, van Buuren S, Burgmeijer RJ, Meulmeester JF, Beuker RJ, Brugman E, Roede MJ, Verloove-Vanhorick SP, Wit JM: Continuing positive secular growth change in The Netherlands 1955-1997. Pediatr Res 2000;47:316-323.
20.
van Dommelen P, Schönbeck Y, van Buuren S: A simple calculation of the target height. Arch Dis Child 2012;97:182.
21.
van Buuren S: Flexible Imputation of Missing Data. Boca Raton, Chapman & Hall/CRC Press, 2012, p 342.
22.
Rubin D: Multiple Imputation for Nonresponse in Surveys. New York, Wiley, 1987.
23.
Ehrenkranz RA, Dusick AM, Vohr BR, Wright LL, Wrage LA, Poole WK: Growth in the neonatal intensive care unit influences neurodevelopmental and growth outcomes of extremely low birth weight infants. Pediatrics 2006;117:1253-1261.
24.
Lundgren M, Cnattingius S, Jonsson B, Tuvemo T: Intellectual performance in young adult males born small for gestational age. Growth Horm IGF Res 2004;14(suppl A):S7-S8.
25.
Frisk V, Amsel R, Whyte HE: The importance of head growth patterns in predicting the cognitive abilities and literacy skills of small-for-gestational-age children. Dev Neuropsychol 2002;22:565-593.
26.
Ong KK: Catch-up growth in small for gestational age babies: good or bad (review)? Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes 2007;14: 30-34..
27.
Ong KK, Loos RJ: Rapid infancy weight gain and subsequent obesity: systematic reviews and hopeful suggestions (review). Acta Paediatr 2006;95:904-908.
28.
Baird J, Fisher D, Lucas P, Kleijnen J, Roberts H, Law C: Being big or growing fast: systematic review of size and growth in infancy and later obesity. Int J Epidemiol 2006;35:1196-1210.
29.
Monteiro PO, Victora CG: Rapid growth in infancy and childhood and obesity in later life - a systematic review. Obes Rev 2005;6:143-154.
30.
Mericq V, Ong KK, Bazaes R, Peña V, Avila A, Salazar T, Soto N, Iñiguez G, Dunger DB: Longitudinal changes in insulin sensitivity and secretion from birth to age three years in small- and appropriate-for-gestational-age children. Diabetologia 2005;48:2609-2614.
31.
Finken MJ, Keijzer-Veen MG, Dekker FW, Frolich M, Hille ET, Romijn JA, Wit JM; Dutch POPS-19 Collaborative Study Group: Preterm birth and later insulin resistance: effects of birth weight and postnatal growth in a population based longitudinal study from birth into adult life. Diabetologia 2006;49:478-485.
32.
Leunissen RW, Kerkhof GF, Stijnen T, Hokken-Koelega A: Timing and tempo of first-year rapid growth in relation to cardiovascular and metabolic risk profile in early adulthood. JAMA 2009;301:2234-2242.
33.
Eriksson JG, Forsén T, Tuomilehto J, Winter PD, Osmond C, Barker DJP: Catch-up growth in childhood and death from coronary heart disease: longitudinal study. BMJ 1999;318:427-431.
34.
Forsén T, Eriksson JG, Tuomilehto J, Osmond C, Barker DJ: Growth in utero and during childhood among women who develop coronary heart disease: longitudinal study. BMJ 1999;319:1403-1407.
35.
Eriksson JG, Forsén TJ: Childhood growth and coronary heart disease in later life. Ann Med 2002;34:157-161.
36.
Ong KK, Ahmed ML, Emmett PM, Preece MA, Dunger DB: Association between postnatal catch-up growth and obesity in childhood: prospective cohort study. BMJ 2000;320:967-971.
37.
Wit JM, Boersma B: Catch-up growth: definition, mechanisms, and models. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab 2002;(suppl 5):1229-1241.
38.
Rogers I; EURO-BLCS Study Group: The influence of birthweight and intrauterine environment on adiposity and fat distribution in later life. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 2003;27:755-777.
39.
de Wit CC, Sas TC, Wit JM, Cutfield WS: Patterns of catch-up growth. J Pediatr 2013;162:415-420.
40.
Young L, Morgan J, McCormick FM, McGuire W: Nutrient-enriched formula versus standard term formula for preterm infants following hospital discharge. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2012;3:CD004696.
41.
Lucas A, Fewtrell MS, Cole TJ: Fetal origins of adult disease - the hypothesis revisited. BMJ 1999;319:245-249.
42.
Hales CN, Barker DJ: The thrifty phenotype hypothesis. Br Med Bull 2001;60:5-20.
43.
Wit JM, Finken MJ, Rijken M, de Zegher F: Preterm growth restraint: a paradigm that unifies intrauterine growth retardation and preterm extrauterine growth retardation and has implications for the small-for-gestational-age indication in growth hormone therapy. Pediatrics 2006;117:e793-e795.
44.
van Pareren YK, Duivenvoorden HJ, Slijper FS, Koot HM, Hokken-Koelega AC: Intelligence and psychosocial functioning during long-term growth hormone therapy in children born small for gestational age. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2004;89:5295-5302.
45.
Van Pareren Y, Mulder P, Houdijk M, Jansen M, Reeser M, Hokken-Koelega A: Adult height after long-term, continuous growth hormone (GH) treatment in short children born small for gestational age: results of a randomized, double-blind, dose-response GH trial. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2003;88:3584-3590.
© 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel
2014
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.