Small for gestational age as an independent risk factor for long-term pediatric gastrointestinal morbidity of the offspring*

AbstractObjective: The concept of neonatal programming has begun to emerge as an important component of adult health. Scarce data exist regarding perinatal risk factors for long-term gastrointestinal (GI) morbidity of the offspring. We aimed to evaluate the association between birthweight (BW) at term and long-term pediatric GI morbidity.Study design: A population-based cohort analysis was performed, comparing the risk of long-term GI morbidity (up to the age of 18 years) in children delivered at term according to their BW. The study included all term deliveries occurring between 1991 and 2014 at a single regional tertiary medical center. Multiple gestationsand fetuses with congenital malformations were excluded. BW was subdivided into: smallfor gestational age( smallfor gestational age(SGA) – BW ≤ 5th centile), appropriate for gestational age(AGA −5th centile < BW < 95th centile), and large for gestational age(LGA – BW ≥95th centile). Hospitalizations up to the age of 18 years involving GI morbidit...