Estimation of neonatal body fat percentage predicts neonatal hypothermia better than birthweight centile

SA Banting; KM Dane; JK Charlton; S Tong; L Hui; AL Middleton; LK Gibson; SP Walker; TM MacDonald

Journal article

Estimation of neonatal body fat percentage predicts neonatal hypothermia better than birthweight centile

SA Banting, KM Dane, JK Charlton, S Tong, L Hui, AL Middleton, LK Gibson, SP Walker, TM MacDonald

Journal of Maternal Fetal and Neonatal Medicine | Published : 2022

DOI: 10.1080/14767058.2022.2032634

Abstract

Introduction: PEA POD™ air displacement plethysmography quickly and noninvasively estimates neonatal body fat percentage (BF%). Low PEA POD™ BF% predicts morbidity better than classification as small-for-gestational-age (SGA; <10th centile), but PEA PODs are not widely available. We examined whether skinfold measurements could effectively identify neonates at risk; comparing skinfold BF%, PEA POD™ BF% and birthweight centiles’ prediction of hypothermia–a marker of reduced in utero nutrition. Methods: Neonates had customized birthweight centiles calculated, and BF% prospectively estimated by: (i) triceps and subscapular skinfolds using sex-specific equations; and (ii) PEA POD™. Medical record..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Stephen Tong Author

Lisa Hui Author

Susan Walker Author

Teresa MacDonald Author

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Grants

Awarded by National Health and Medical Research Council

Funding Acknowledgements

The authors thank the health information services, postnatal ward, nursery, and the university research department at the Mercy Hospital for Women for their assistance in conducting this study. The authors thank the philanthropic donors to the Mercy Health Foundation for their generous support.