Why the study?
The impact of prenatal factors and early growth patterns on heart structure and function in children with structurally normal hearts remains incompletely described.
Do prenatal factors and early growth patterns influence heart structure and function in children with structurally normal hearts?
Population
738 children aged 11 to 83 months with structurally normal hearts
Comparison
BW, BW/GA z-score, GA, and weight gain z-score as predictors of cardiac dimensions
Design
Longitudinal study
Key result
Higher postnatal weight gain z-score was independently associated with smaller cardiac dimension z-scores, particularly in the aortic root, ascending aorta, and left atrium diameter.
Authors
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Associations between prenatal factors, early growth, and cardiac dimensions remain hypothesis-generating; larger prospective studies needed before clinical implications.
Observational (n=738)
Do prenatal factors and early growth patterns influence heart structure and function in children with structurally normal hearts?
Postnatal weight gain is a more significant predictor of cardiac size z-scores than birth characteristics in children with structurally normal hearts.
Baghsheikhi et al. (2026) conducted an observational in Structurally normal hearts (n=738). Postnatal weight gain and birth characteristics was evaluated on Cardiac dimension and volume z-scores standardized for body surface area. Higher postnatal weight gain z-score was independently associated with smaller cardiac dimension z-scores, particularly in the aortic root, ascending aorta, and left atrium diameter.
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