New and improved population-based German reference data for preterm infants growth

Background: Preterm infants growth is best described in form of standard deviation scores (SD scores or z-scores). Effects of nutritional interventions are assessed easily with z-scores. The z-score of a measurement such as weight indicates how far and in what direction that measurement deviates from its distribution's mean, expressed in units of its standard deviation. However, there are no pertinent German population based reference curves available enabling clinicians to easily convert preterm infants growth status into z-scores. Objective: Aim of the present study was to provide an updated German growth refe…