92 Chapter 5 Abstract Context There are concerns that a higher fat mass in the early life of preterm infants is associated with adverse cardiometabolic outcomes in young adulthood. Objective To investigate the role of IGF-I and growth in determining body composition of preterm infants at term equivalent age. Design An observational study was conducted from August 2015 to August 2018. From birth to term equivalent age IGF-I levels were measured bi-weekly and growth was assessed weekly. At term equivalent age body composition was assessed through air displacement plethysmography. Patients Sixty-five infants with a gestational age of 24 to 32 weeks were assessed at term equivalent age of whom 58 completed body composition measurement. Main outcome measures Fat (free) mass (g) and fat (free) mass percentage at term equivalent age. Results In the first month of life each 0.1 nmol/L per week increase in IGF-I was associated 465 g (S.E. 125 g) increase in fat free mass. A greater increase in weight SDS in the first month of life was associated with a higher fat free mass percentage (B 200.9, 95% CI 12.1 - 389.6). A higher head circumference SDS was associated with more fat free mass (r 0.46, 95% CI 0.21 – 0.65). However, a greater increase in weight SDS up to term equivalent age was associated with a lower fat free mass percentage (B -55.7, S.E. 9.4). Conclusions These findings suggest that impaired growth in the first month of life , is associated with a less favorable body composition at term equivalent age.
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