Gestational age assessment in newborns using regression equation of anthropometric parameters singly or in combination

Abstract

Aim: To find the best parameter for gestational age (GA) assessment by calculating regression equation of the best anthropometric parameter alone and/or in combinations in rural parts of India. Setting and design : This was a cross sectional prospective study conducted at the department of Pediatrics, NIMS Medical College and Hospital, Jaipur, Rajasthan during September 2012 to October 2013 with sample size of 1000 patients. All the cases of singleton newborns between the GA of 28 to 43 weeks were included in study. Materials and method: After considering all inclusion criteria all the subjects were examined within 72 hours of birth by a single observer using predefined methods.Birth weight (BW), Foot Length (FL), Head Circumference (HC) and crown-heel length of each case were measured and the mean, standard deviation, 3^rd, 5^th, 10^th, 25^th, 50^th, 75^th, 90^th, 95^th and 97^th percentiles were calculated. Regression equations of GA incompleted weeks and weeks plus days (nearest week) with all anthropometric parameters were calculated. Result: In the present study all the four anthropometric measurements highly correlated well with GA in completed weeks as well as with weeks plus days (nearest week)and were found to be highly statistically significant(p 0.0001). Amongst anthropometric parameters individually, FL, had maximum positive correltaion(r=0.878) with GA in completed weeks followed by BW(r=0.799), HC(r=0.766) and crown to heel length (r=0.764) respectively. Conclusion: The overall best correlation for prediction of GA, alone and in combination is found by combined parameters (BW, FL, HC and crown to heel length). The best individual anthropometric parameters for GA assessment is foot length.