ZHANG-LU INDEX FOR COMPREHENSIVE EVALUATION OF THE PHYSICAL GROWTH OF NEWBORNS

Lu Q¹, Zhang BL², Wang BQ², Liu QG¹

¹ Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China

² Hunan Medical University, Hunan, China

Objective: To establish a new index for comprehensive evaluation of physical growth of neonates.

Methods: Zhang-LuIndex (ZLI) Weight(g)+250

height(cm)´head circumference(cm) ´2

was computerized with data of body height, body weight and head circumference collected from 1341 full-term AGA neonates. This index as well as other 10 body indices was compared to the conventional body weight for gestational age based on data coming from 144 SGA, 167 LGA and 75 AGA neonates.

Results: Difference between ~31, ~32, ~33 gestational weeks and that between ~34 and ~35 gestational weeks is significant respectively (P<0.05). After birth, ZLI increases along with the daily age. The difference between daily age in ~3 days, ~7 days, ~14 days, ~28 days, and ~60 days is also significant (P<0.01). ZLI together with other 10 body indices was compared to the method of body weight for gestational age, it's sensitivity, specificity, loss diagnosis rate, false diagnosis rate as well as the total compatibility rate are 70%, 75%, 30%, 25% and 73% respectively. The normal values fluctuate in small range, X±SD is 1.00±0.06, the easy remembered mean and including more parameters (height, weight and head circumference). Conclusion: ZLI is a better indicator for comprehensively evaluating the growth of intrauterine and in postnatal 2 months of life.

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