Birth Weight and the Development of Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders in Infants
Maria Elisabetta Baldassarre, Antonio Di Mauro, Silvia Salvatore, Silvio Tafuri, Francesco Paolo Bianchi, Enzo Dattoli, L. Morando, Licia Pensabene, Fabio Meneghin, Dario Dilillo, Valentina Mancini, Valentina Talarico, Francesco Tandoi, Gianvincenzo Zuccotti, Massimo Agosti, Nicola Laforgia
Abstract
PURPOSE: To assess the association between birth weight and the development of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) in the first year of life. METHODS: This is a secondary analysis of a prospective cohort multicenter study including neonates, consecutively enrolled at birth, and followed up for one year. At birth all infants were classified by birth weight as extremely low (ELBW), very low, or low when <1,000, <1,500, and <2,500 g, respectively, and by birth weight for gestational age as appropriate (AGA, weight in the 10-90th percentile), small (SGA, weight <10th percentile), and large (LGA, weight >90th percentile) for gestational age. FGIDs were classified according to the Rome III criteria and assessed at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months of life. RESULTS: =0.0001). On multivariate analysis, SGA was significantly associated with infantile colic. CONCLUSION: We observed an increased risk of FGIDs in ELBW, SGA, and LGA neonates. Our results suggest that prenatal factors determining birth weight may influence the development of FGIDs in infants. Understanding the role of all potential risk factors may provide new insights and targeted approaches for FGIDs.