Retrospective longitudinal study on growth trajectories from birth to 24 months in different subtypes of term small-for-gestational-age infants

CHEN Ganne; CAI Yalun; CHEN Shu; DENG Lidan; DENG Canhong

doi:10.11852/zgetbjzz2025-1423

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Chinese Journal of Child Health Care ›› 2026, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (10) : 1116-1121. DOI: 10.11852/zgetbjzz2025-1423

Early-life Prevention of Chronic Disease

Retrospective longitudinal study on growth trajectories from birth to 24 months in different subtypes of term small-for-gestational-age infants

CHEN Ganne, CAI Yalun, CHEN Shu, DENG Lidan, DENG Canhong

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Abstract

Objective To compare growth trajectories from birth to 24 months among different subtypes of term small-for-gestational-age infants, in order to provide a scientific basis for personalized growth management in community. Methods In this retrospective longitudinal study, 241 term SGA infants born between March 2022 and August 2023 and followed at the Shiqiao Community Health Service Center were classified as SGA1[birth weight <10th percentile (P₁₀) only, n=142], SGA2 (birth length <P₁₀ only, n=50), or SGA3 (both birth weight and length <P₁₀, n=49). A total of 482 appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) infants were matched at a 1∶2 ratio. Weight-for-age Z score (WAZ) and length-for-age Z score (HAZ) were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models to compare the growth trajectories. Results At birth, all SGA subgroups had lower WAZ and HAZ than the AGA group (F=238.660, 244.809, P<0.001). Positive subgroup-by-time and negative subgroup-by-time-squared interactions indicated that the gaps narrowed early after birth but SGA infants showed a slower decline in growth trajectory. Catch-up was most obvious in SGA2: WAZ did not differ significantly from AGA from 3 months onward; HAZ did not differ at 12 or 18 months old but was lower again at 24 months old (t=3.079, P=0.011). At 24 months, WAZ and HAZ remained lower in SGA1 and SGA3 (P<0.001), whereas WAZ in SGA2 did not differ from AGA (P＞0.05). Conclusions Term SGA infants generally show early catch-up growth, but trajectories differ across different subgroups and not all growth indicators reach AGA levels by 24 months old. Stratified growth monitoring should consider both the affected anthropometric dimension and the longitudinal trajectory.

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term small-for-gestational-age infants / catch-up growth / growth trajectory / linear mixed-effects model

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CHEN Ganne, CAI Yalun, CHEN Shu, DENG Lidan, DENG Canhong. Retrospective longitudinal study on growth trajectories from birth to 24 months in different subtypes of term small-for-gestational-age infants[J]. Chinese Journal of Child Health Care. 2026, 34(10): 1116-1121 https://doi.org/10.11852/zgetbjzz2025-1423

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