Ann Pediatr Endocrinol Metab.  2019 Dec;24(4):226-230. 10.6065/apem.2019.24.4.226.

Korean reference for full-term birth length by sex: data from the 4th Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES-IV; 2007–2009)

• Kim JH
• Lee JA
• Kim DH
• Lim JS

• KMID: 2468723
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.6065/apem.2019.24.4.226

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to construct reference data for birth length of full-term and preterm Korean infants by sex and to define a sex-specific birth length cut-off to identify small for gestational age (SGA).
METHODS
Data were collected from the 4th Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007-2009), comprising 843 children with birth length data and birth history.
RESULTS
References for the 3rd, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th, and 97th percentiles of birth length and weight were created using singleton neonates of gestational age (GA) 36-37 weeks and 38-41 weeks by sex. The birth length cutoff value for SGA (<10th percentile) was 48 cm in both male and female neonates, and the ≤3rd percentile cutoff was 47 cm in males and 46 cm in females born at a GA of 38-41 weeks.
CONCLUSION
New Korean reference data were created for birth length and differed from those of other ethnicities. Further research on short-term and long-term health outcomes of SGA infants based on the new reference data is needed.

Keyword

Birth length; Gestational age; Reference; Small for gestational age infant; Koreans

MeSH Terms

Asian Continental Ancestry Group
Child
Female
Gestational Age
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Male
Nutrition Surveys*
Parturition*
Reproductive History

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. The birth weight and length of full-term infants by sex. The horizontal red line reflects 10th percentile for birth length in both sexes. The vertical line reflects 10th percentile for birth weight (male; full line). By these line full-term infants are divided by 4 groups: group I; normal birth length and weight, group II; normal length and low weight, group III; short and of normal weight, group IV; short and of a low weight.

Reference

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