Impact of Small-for-Gestational-Age Severity on Mortality and Morbidity in Very Preterm Infants
Journal of Critical and Intensive Care, cilt.17, sa.2, ss.76-83, 2026 (ESCI, Scopus, TRDizin)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 17 Sayı: 2
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.14744/dcybd.2026.02451
- Dergi Adı: Journal of Critical and Intensive Care
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), Scopus, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.76-83
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Intrauterine growth restriction, Preterm, Small for gestational age, Z-score
- Ankara Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the severity of small-for-gestation al-age status on mortality and prematurity-related morbidities in very preterm infants. Study Design: Data from all inborn very preterm infants (<32 weeks’ gestation) were eval uated. Infants with congenital anomalies or those who were large-for-gestational-age were excluded. Results: Of the 461 infants included, 74 (16%) were classified as small for gestational age (SGA). The rates of culture-proven late-onset sepsis and mortality were higher in the SGA group than in the non-SGA group (p<0.05). However, no significant differences were observed in other prematurity-related morbidities between the groups (p>0.05). The Z-score cut-off val ue for predicting mortality was –1.68, with a sensitivity of 71.4% and a specificity of 66.7% (area under the curve: 0.696; 95% confidence interval: 0.574–0.819; p=0.005). Conclusions: SGA infants had higher rates of sepsis and mortality than non-SGA infants. Furthermore, among SGA preterm infants, a lower birth weight Z-score was associated with increased mortality. Careful perinatal follow-up is essential for preterm infants born SGA.