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Differences between European birthweight standards: impact on classification of ‘small for gestational age’

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Hemming, Karla, Hutton, Jane (Statistician), Glinianaia, S. V., Jarvis, S. N. and Platt, M. J.. (2006) Differences between European birthweight standards: impact on classification of ‘small for gestational age’. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, Vol.48 (No.11). pp. 906-912. ISSN 0012-1622

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0012162206001988

Abstract

We describe a quantitative and comparative review of a selection of European birthweight standards for gestational age for singletons, to enable appropriate choices to be made for clinical and research use. Differences between median values at term across standards in 10 regions and misclassification of ‘small for gestational age’ (SGA), were studied. Sex and parity differences, exclusion criteria, and methods of construction were considered. There was wide variation between countries in exclusion criteria, methods of calculating standards, and median birthweight at term. The lightest standards (e.g. France's medians are 255g lower than Norway's medians) were associated with fewer exclusion criteria. Up to 20% of the population used in the construction of the Scottish standard would be classified as SGA using the Norwegian standard. Substantial misclassification of SGA is possible. Assumptions about variation used in the construction of some standards were not justified. It is not possible to conclude that there are real differences in birthweight standards between European countries. Country-based standards control for some population features but add misclassification due to the differing ways in which standards are derived. Standards should be chosen to reflect clinical or research need. If standards stratified by sex or parity are not available, adjustments should be made. In multinational studies, comparisons should be made between results using both a common standard and country-based standards.

Item Type:

Journal Article

Subjects:

R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics

Divisions:

Faculty of Science > Statistics

Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):

Birth weight, Low -- Europe, Birth weight, Low -- Standards, Gestational age -- Testing, Medicine -- Statistical methods, Medicine, Comparative -- Europe

Journal or Publication Title:

Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology

Publisher:

Cambridge University Press

ISSN:

0012-1622

Official Date:

November 2006

Dates:

Date	Event
November 2006	Published

Volume:

Vol.48

Number:

No.11

Page Range:

pp. 906-912

Identification Number:

10.1017/S0012162206001988

Status:

Peer Reviewed

Access rights to Published version:

Open Access

Funder:

Medical Research Council (Great Britain) (MRC), European Commission (EC)

Grant number:

DGXIIBIOMED2- Contract NBMH4-983701 (EC)

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