Lawrence, N.R. orcid.org/0000-0002-7560-0268, Panchigar, K., Clark, S.J. orcid.org/0000-0002-6373-8948 et al. (5 more authors) (2025) Longitudinal modelling of growth in neonates exposed to antenatal steroids to quantify associations with final height: a cohort study. Archives of Disease in Childhood. ISSN: 0003-9888
Abstract
Objective
To assess the associations of antenatal steroids with child growth.
Design
Longitudinal observational cohort study started in 1994.
Setting
A single tertiary neonatal centre in Sheffield, UK.
Participants
Of 254 individuals recruited, two were excluded, 48 born at term; 202 (57% boys, 87% white ethnicity) modelled had a median of 19 height measurements each (Q1:12 to Q3:21) up to median age 15.8 years (Q1:9.9 to Q3:16.9).
Interventions
Data on administration of antenatal steroids were collected alongside gestational age and parental height.
Main outcome measures
Height was modelled with SuperImposition by Translation and Rotation (SITAR) to extract each person’s peak velocity and age at peak velocity via the SITAR random effects of ‘size’, ‘timing’ and ‘intensity’ and to predict height at 18 years. The association of each random effect and final height with exposure to antenatal steroids was assessed by multiple regression to adjust for covariates.
Results
In girls with covariates available (n=59/87), exposure to antenatal steroids was positively associated with SITAR ‘size’ and ‘intensity’ of growth when adjusted for gestational age, maternal and paternal height, equating to a final height 2.8 cm (95% CI 0.3 to 5.3 cm) greater than for those not exposed to antenatal steroids. In boys (n=66/115), exposure to antenatal steroids had no association with final height.
Conclusions
This observational cohort study showed greater height of girls exposed to antenatal steroids not seen in boys. Analysis of existing long-term follow-up data from neonates is indicated to increase understanding of the associations of neonatal interventions on growth.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2025 The Authors. Except as otherwise noted, this author-accepted version of a journal article published in Archives of Disease in Childhood is made available via the University of Sheffield Research Publications and Copyright Policy under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC-BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
Keywords: | Paediatrics; Biomedical and Clinical Sciences; Pediatric Research Initiative; Clinical Research; Conditions Affecting the Embryonic and Fetal Periods; Reproductive health and childbirth; Good Health and Well Being |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health (Sheffield) > School of Medicine and Population Health The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Social Sciences (Sheffield) > Management School (Sheffield) |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number NIHR Academy NIHR302559 |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 30 Jul 2025 14:22 |
Last Modified: | 30 Jul 2025 14:22 |
Status: | Published online |
Publisher: | BMJ |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1136/archdischild-2025-329091 |
Sustainable Development Goals: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:229836 |
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