NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF PRETERM INFANTS AT DISCHARGE: A STUDY AT TEHRAN VALIE-E-ASR HOSPITAL

 ABSTRACT Background: Nutrients meeting recommended dietary intakes take time to establish and once established are rarely maintained throughout hospital stay in preterm infants. Methods: Our purpose is to define the nutritional status and growth parameters of hospitalized patients at discharge in our hospital. Data were obtained concerning all 50 infants born weighing <1800 g and <34 weeks of gestation who survived until at least 21 days of age. At weekly intervals, intakes of fluid, energy, and protein from all sources were determined and body weight, head circumference and length were recorded. Results: 50 premature neonates with gestational age of 30.5 ± 2.35 weeks and birth weight of 1337 ±232 g comprising 26 (52%) females and 24 (48%) males were entered into this study from April to July 2004. The mean time of caloric intake of 120Kcal /kg/d was 18.41 ± 6.7 days of age. 37.8% of mothers provide breast milk, 51% preterm formula and the rest of the patients consumed both. Biochemical markers of nutritional status showed that 64% of neonates had blood urea nitrogen 450 IU/L, 73% had serum phosphorus <4.5 mg/dL, and 49% had serum albumin <3 g/dL at time of discharge. Except for serum albumin, comparisons of biochemical parameters between small for gestational age & appropriate for gestational age infants were not significant at discharge time. Comparisons of weight and head circumference at birth and at discharge time showed that a significant number of neonates became small for gestational age at discharge (p<0.05). Conclusion: Availability of appropriate amino acid solutions for neonates, parenteral phosphorus, trace elements and human fortifier could reduce these problems.