Small for gestational age children without early catch-up growth: Spontaneous growth and prediction of height at 8 years

Background/Aim: About 10-15% of children born small for gestational age (SGA) have at the age of 2 years a height standard deviation score (HSDS2y) still below -2. There is no model to predict which children will catch up in height after 2 years of age. The aim of this study was to determine the percentage of children with catch-up growth to a normal height after the age of 2 years and to develop a prediction model for growth after that age. Methods: In a cohort of 724 SGA children, the percentage of children with HSDS above -2 at 8 years of age was determined. In data of 97 children with HSDS2y below -2, a prediction model was developed for growth between 2 and 8 years. Results: Thirty-nine percent of children with HSDS2y below -2 reached an HSDS above -2 between 2 and 8 years (6% of the total group). Determinants of growth after age 2 years, all with a positive influence, were the difference between target height SDS and HSDS2y, change in height SDS during first 2 years of life, female gender and multiple birth. Conclusions: Catch-up growth to a normal height occurred in 91% of SGA children, in 6% between 2 and 8 years of age. The difference between target height SDS and HSDS2y was the most important determinant. The presented prediction model can identify children with low or high probability of catch-up growth after the age of 2 years. This may assist to determine which children require medical follow-up. Copyright (C) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel.