TY - JOUR

T1 - WHO multicentre study for the development of growth standards from fetal life to childhood

T2 - the fetal component

AU - Merialdi, Mario

AU - Widmer, Mariana

AU - Gülmezoglu, Ahmet Metin

AU - Abdel-Aleem, Hany

AU - Bega, George

AU - Benachi, Alexandra

AU - Carroli, Guillermo

AU - Cecatti, Jose Guilherme

AU - Diemert, Anke

AU - Gonzalez, Rogelio

AU - Hecher, Kurt

AU - Jensen, Lisa N

AU - Johnsen, Synnøve L

AU - Kiserud, Torvid

AU - Kriplani, Alka

AU - Lumbiganon, Pisake

AU - Tabor, Ann

AU - Talegawkar, Sameera A

AU - Tshefu, Antoinette

AU - Wojdyla, Daniel

AU - Platt, Lawrence

PY - 2014

Y1 - 2014

N2 - BACKGROUND: In 2006 WHO presented the infant and child growth charts suggested for universal application. However, major determinants for perinatal outcomes and postnatal growth are laid down during antenatal development. Accordingly, monitoring fetal growth in utero by ultrasonography is important both for clinical and scientific reasons. The currently used fetal growth references are derived mainly from North American and European population and may be inappropriate for international use, given possible variances in the growth rates of fetuses from different ethnic population groups. WHO has, therefore, made it a high priority to establish charts of optimal fetal growth that can be recommended worldwide.METHODS: This is a multi-national study for the development of fetal growth standards for international application by assessing fetal growth in populations of different ethnic and geographic backgrounds. The study will select pregnant women of high-middle socioeconomic status with no obvious environmental constraints on growth (adequate nutritional status, non-smoking), and normal pregnancy history with no complications likely to affect fetal growth. The study will be conducted in centres from ten developing and industrialized countries: Argentina, Brazil, Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Norway, and Thailand. At each centre, 140 pregnant women will be recruited between 8 + 0 and 12 + 6 weeks of gestation. Subsequently, visits for fetal biometry will be scheduled at 14, 18, 24, 28, 32, 36, and 40 weeks (+/- 1 week) to be performed by trained ultrasonographers.The main outcome of the proposed study will be the development of fetal growth standards (either global or population specific) for international applications.DISCUSSION: The data from this study will be incorporated into obstetric practice and national health policies at country level in coordination with the activities presently conducted by WHO to implement the use of the Child Growth Standards.

AB - BACKGROUND: In 2006 WHO presented the infant and child growth charts suggested for universal application. However, major determinants for perinatal outcomes and postnatal growth are laid down during antenatal development. Accordingly, monitoring fetal growth in utero by ultrasonography is important both for clinical and scientific reasons. The currently used fetal growth references are derived mainly from North American and European population and may be inappropriate for international use, given possible variances in the growth rates of fetuses from different ethnic population groups. WHO has, therefore, made it a high priority to establish charts of optimal fetal growth that can be recommended worldwide.METHODS: This is a multi-national study for the development of fetal growth standards for international application by assessing fetal growth in populations of different ethnic and geographic backgrounds. The study will select pregnant women of high-middle socioeconomic status with no obvious environmental constraints on growth (adequate nutritional status, non-smoking), and normal pregnancy history with no complications likely to affect fetal growth. The study will be conducted in centres from ten developing and industrialized countries: Argentina, Brazil, Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Norway, and Thailand. At each centre, 140 pregnant women will be recruited between 8 + 0 and 12 + 6 weeks of gestation. Subsequently, visits for fetal biometry will be scheduled at 14, 18, 24, 28, 32, 36, and 40 weeks (+/- 1 week) to be performed by trained ultrasonographers.The main outcome of the proposed study will be the development of fetal growth standards (either global or population specific) for international applications.DISCUSSION: The data from this study will be incorporated into obstetric practice and national health policies at country level in coordination with the activities presently conducted by WHO to implement the use of the Child Growth Standards.

KW - Adolescent

KW - Adult

KW - Anthropometry

KW - Argentina

KW - Biometry

KW - Brazil

KW - Democratic Republic of the Congo

KW - Denmark

KW - Egypt

KW - Ethnic Groups

KW - Female

KW - Fetal Development

KW - France

KW - Germany

KW - Gestational Age

KW - Growth Charts

KW - Humans

KW - India

KW - Norway

KW - Pregnancy

KW - Reference Values

KW - Research Design

KW - Social Class

KW - Thailand

KW - Ultrasonography, Prenatal

KW - World Health Organization

KW - Young Adult

U2 - 10.1186/1471-2393-14-157

DO - 10.1186/1471-2393-14-157

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 24886101

VL - 14

SP - 1

EP - 9

JO - B M C Pregnancy and Childbirth

JF - B M C Pregnancy and Childbirth

SN - 1471-2393

M1 - 157

ER -