Gestational age–standardized neonatal growth patterns in adolescent pregnancy
Early Human Development, cilt.223, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 223
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2026.106632
- Dergi Adı: Early Human Development
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, BIOSIS, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO)
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Adolescent pregnancy, INTERGROWTH-21st, Neonatal growth, Head circumference, Preterm birth, Z -score, Newborn
- Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Objective: To evaluate whether differences in neonatal size in adolescent pregnancy reflect prematurity or intrinsic fetal growth restriction using gestational age–adjusted growth metrics. Study design: This retrospective single-center study included 329 mother–infant dyads (111 adolescents ≤19 years; 218 adults aged 20–35 years). Neonatal anthropometric measurements were converted into sex- and gestational age–adjusted z-scores using INTERGROWTH-21st standards. Birth weight, length, and head circumference z-scores, along with ponderal index, and growth asymmetry (HC_z − BW_z) were compared between groups. Multivariable regression analyses adjusted for gestational age, maternal smoking, neonatal sex, and maternal hemoglobin level. Results: In unadjusted analyses, infants born to adolescents had lower birth weight, length, and head circumference (all p < 0.001). After gestational age standardization, no statistically significant differences were detected in birth weight or length z-scores. A small nominal difference was observed in head-circumference z-score (Cohen's d = −0.25; nominal p = 0.031), which should be interpreted cautiously. Ponderal index and growth asymmetry did not differ. In multivariable analyses, adolescent pregnancy was not independently associated with birth weight or length z-scores but showed a modest association with lower head-circumference z-score (β = −0.35, 95% CI −0.61 to −0.08). Adolescent pregnancy remained independently associated with preterm birth (adjusted OR 2.39), while its association with low birth weight was attenuated. Conclusion: Adverse neonatal outcomes in adolescent pregnancy appear to be largely mediated through prematurity rather than generalized impairment in fetal growth. A modest difference in head-circumference z-score was observed, but its clinical relevance remains uncertain and requires confirmation in larger prospective studies. Gestational age–standardized assessment may improve the interpretation of neonatal growth patterns in adolescent pregnancy.