THE RELATIONSHIP OF PONDERAL INDEX AND OTHER MEASUREMENTS TO BIRTH-WEIGHT IN PRETERM NEONATES

The objective was to determine the relationship between birthweight an d anthropometric indices (PI and MAC/OFC) in preterm infants. A group of 163 singleton preterm neonates born at 24-36 weeks were examined. M easurements were made of crown-heel length, midarm circumference, and occipito-frontal circumference. Birthweigbts were calculated as multip les of the mean (MoMs) for a given stage of gestation. There was a hig hly significant correlation between gestational age and MAC/OFC (p < 0 .0001) but none with ponderal index. There was a significant correlati on between weight expressed as multiples of the mean and both ponderal index (p < 0.008) and MAC/OFC (p < 0.0001). This relationship between birthweight and anthropometric indices suggests that measurement of t he ponderal index does not provide a useful index of intrauterine nutr ition.