AUTHOR=Heiter Julia , Konow Juliane , Koch Jochim , Singer Dominique , Ebenebe Chinedu Ulrich 

TITLE=Thermal equilibrium as a predictor of growth efficiency in preterm infants

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pediatrics

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2024

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pediatrics/articles/10.3389/fped.2024.1469724

DOI=10.3389/fped.2024.1469724

ISSN=2296-2360

ABSTRACT=Introduction: Providing adequate nutrition to preterm infants to achieve postnatal growth similar to intrauterine growth remains challenging due to the unpredictability of individual determinants.
Material and Methods: We used a calculation program for infant incubators to compare the estimated heat balance with the caloric intake and growth rate in Very Low Birth Weight Infants (VLBWI).
Results and Discussion: A group of 32 VLBWI was studied over a period of 14-28 days. An interrelationship between thermal equilibrium and growth rate was observed, with standardized incubator settings being unable to avoid periods of negative thermal balance and concomitantly poor growth rate.
Conclusion: Determining personalized incubator settings by means of a calculation program could help improve nutrition and growth in preterm infants.