Abstract

Background: In many publications concerning norms of weight in population of children, the appropriate weight of body is defined in connection with its stature. Ponderal index initiated in 1970 by Miller seems to be of a great value. It is used to distinguish newborns with deficient or excess body mass in proportion to its length. Relative risk of morbidity and mortality in full term newborns with low value of nutrition index increases from 1.9 to 4,2 times. The aim of publication was evaluation of symmetry of intrauterine development based on the calculation of PI.Material/Methods: 10770 newborns born in 8 Hospitals in the Pomeranian Region in 2000 and 2119 newborns born in1990 in Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Medical University of Gdafsk were analysed. Obtained results were statistically evaluated. Means and standard deviations were calculated.Results: In examined material of newborns from Pomeranian Region in 1990 mean value of this index was for boys 2.20±0.27, for girls 2.18±0.27 and was evidently lower than values cited in literature. In 2000 this mean was 2.06±0.25 and was significantly lower than the same values from 1990. Newborns in Pomeranian Region were slimmer, especially it was accented in 2000 comparing to 1990. Estimating the harmony of growth of newborns born from diabetic mothers it was stated in examined population higher average value PI. It was between 2.24 do 2.28. It was greater than value of percentile for PI in general population (2.06±0.25).Conclusions: Mean birth weight of newborns in 2000 was evidently greater than ones in 1990. The differences of birth length were more accented. Actually the newborns are significantly slimmer, what was confirmed in mean values of nutrition index. It was stated not proportional intrauterine development in group of newborns of diabetic mothers, especially with birth weight ?4000 g. In thisgroup it seems indicated to evaluate the nutrition index, especially in aspect of subsequent normal somatic development.

Keywords: Ponderal index, asymmetric growth, newborn