Predictors of Postnatal Growth Failure in Preterm Infants

September 10, 2026 updated by: Kamal Gamal Mohamed Ahmed, Assiut University

Clinical and Nutritional Predictors of Postnatal Growth Failure in Preterm Infants Admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Assiut University Children's Hospital

This prospective observational study aims to identify the clinical and nutritional predictors of postnatal growth failure among preterm infants admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Assiut University Children's Hospital.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Detailed Description

Postnatal growth failure is a common complication among preterm infants admitted to neonatal intensive care units. This prospective cohort study will include preterm infants (gestational age less than 37 weeks) admitted to the NICU within the first 24 hours of life and hospitalized for at least 14 days.

Clinical data, nutritional practices, and serial anthropometric measurements will be collected from admission until hospital discharge. Postnatal growth failure will be defined as a discharge weight below the 10th percentile for postmenstrual age according to the Fenton Growth Chart and/or a decline in weight Z-score of more than 1.0 standard deviation between birth and discharge. The study will identify independent clinical and nutritional predictors of postnatal growth failure.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

120

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Name: Kamal G Ahmed, Resident
Phone Number: +20 11 41620746
Email: kamal.18313193@med.aun.edu.eg

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

Child

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Preterm infants admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Assiut University Children's Hospital.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

- Gestational age less than 37 completed weeks
Admission to the NICU within the first 24 hours after birth
Hospitalization for at least 14 days
Availability of complete clinical, nutritional, and anthropometric data
Written informed consent from parents or legal guardians

Exclusion Criteria:

- Major congenital malformations
Chromosomal abnormalities
Major congenital gastrointestinal anomalies interfering with feeding
Major congenital heart diseases requiring early surgical intervention
Inborn errors of metabolism
Congenital TORCH infections

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Number of groups / cohorts

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Single cohort: Preterm infants admitted to NICU Preterm infants with gestational age less than 37 weeks admitted to the NICU within 24 hours of birth and hospitalized for at least 14 days, followed until hospital discharge for assessment of postnatal growth failure and its predictors.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Occurrence of postnatal growth failure Time Frame: Up to 30 days	Proportion of preterm infants who develop postnatal growth failure at hospital discharge, defined as discharge weight below the 10th percentile for postmenstrual age according to the Fenton Growth Chart, or a decline in weight-for-age Z-score of more than 1.0 standard deviation between birth and discharge.	Up to 30 days

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Growth velocity Time Frame: Up to 30 days	Growth velocity expressed as grams per kilogram per day (g/kg/day) during hospitalization	Up to 30 days
Time to achieve full enteral feeding Time Frame: Up to 30 days	Number of days from birth to achievement of full enteral feeding (150 mL/kg/day).	Up to 30 days
Duration of parenteral nutrition Time Frame: Up to 30 days	Number of days of parenteral nutrition during hospitalization.	Up to 30 days
Length of hospital stay Time Frame: Up to 30 days	Duration of hospitalization in days.	Up to 30 days
In-hospital mortality Time Frame: Up to 30 days	Rate of mortality during the NICU stay.	Up to 30 days

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Assiut University

Investigators

Study Chair: Kotb A Metwalley, prof, pediatrics Department, Assiut University Hospitals

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

September 20, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

September 25, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

July 1, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 2, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 10, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

September 14, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)