6. Original Scientific Paper
Abstract

Rohrer’s Ponderal Index (PI) is used to categorize small for gestational age (SGA) infants into symmetric and asymmetric types. Due to non-availability of longitudinal information on growth of PI of symmetric and asymmetric SGA infants, this study aimed to understand auxological dynamics of PI amongst Indian SGA babies. One hundred symmetric (boys: 50, girls: 50), 100 asymmetric (boys: 50, girls: 50) and 100 (boys: 50, girls: 50) appropriate for gestational age (AGA) infants born at full-term to parents representing upper socio-economic strata and inhabiting North-Western parts of India comprised sample for this study. Body weight and crown-heel length were mixed-longitudinally measured at birth, 1, 3, 6, 9 & 12 months of age using standardized anthropometric techniques in Growth Laboratory/Clinic, Advanced Pediatrics Centre, PGIMER, Chandigarh. Symmetric SGA males possessed significantly (p≤0.001) higher PI than their asymmetric counterparts upto 9 months. While, symmetric SGA females had higher PI than asymmetric infants upto 1 month. Between 3 to 9 months asymmetric SGA female infants possessed higher PI. By 12 months, PI became similar amongst SGA infants of two types and sexes. Symmetric and asymmetric SGA infants exhibit significant gender and intra-group differences for PI hence, should be postnatally treated as distinct entities for this auxological index.

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