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The risk of small for gestational age in very low birth weight infants born to Asian or Pacific Islander mothers in California

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Abstract

Objective

To evaluate potential differences and to show the risk associated with small for gestational age (SGA) at birth and discharge among infants born to mothers of various Asian/Pacific islander (PI) races.

Study design

In this retrospective cohort study, infants with weight <1500 g or 23–28 weeks gestation, born in California during 2008–2012 were included. Logistic regression models were used.

Results

Asian and PI infants in ten groups had significant differences in growth parameters, socioeconomic factors, and some morbidities. Overall incidences of SGA at birth and discharge were 21% and 50%, respectively; Indian race had the highest numbers (29%, 63%). Infants of parents with the same race were at increased risk of SGA at birth and discharge compared with mixed race parents.

Conclusion

Specific Asian race should be considered when evaluating preterm growth. Careful consideration for the appropriateness of grouping Asian/PI races together in perinatal studies is warranted.

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Fig. 1: Geographic distribution of maternal race/ethnicity for the infants registered in CPQCC.
Fig. 2: Distribution of maternal race among Asians and PI infant.
Fig. 3: Incidence of SGA.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the March of Dimes Prematurity Research Center at Stanford University School of Medicine. JP contribution is supported by a grant from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (R01 HD084667-01, PI). This content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health or the March of Dimes. The authors thank Medical Illustration & Design for helping to design Fig. 1.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatal & Developmental Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA

    Soon Min Lee, Lillian Sie, Jessica Liu, Jochen Profit & Henry C. Lee

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

    Soon Min Lee

  3. California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative (CPQCC), Stanford, CA, USA

    Soon Min Lee, Lillian Sie, Jessica Liu, Jochen Profit & Henry C. Lee

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  1. Soon Min Lee
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  2. Lillian Sie
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Correspondence to Henry C. Lee.

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Lee, S.M., Sie, L., Liu, J. et al. The risk of small for gestational age in very low birth weight infants born to Asian or Pacific Islander mothers in California. J Perinatol 40, 724–731 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-020-0601-9

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