Prenatal and neonatal characteristics of the studied neonates
| FGR (n=39) | NO-FGR (n=139) | p Value | |
| Gestational age (weeks) | 27.5±1.1 | 26.7±1.7 | 0.008 |
| Birth weight (g) | 720±198 | 927±242 | <0.001 |
| Caesarean section | 37 (95) | 110 (79) | 0.03 |
| Indicated preterm birth | 35 (90) | 30 (22) | <0.001 |
| Spontaneous preterm birth | 1 (3) | 80 (58) | <0.001 |
| Male sex | 19 (49) | 72 (52) | 0.73 |
| Apgar score at 5 min | 7.8±1 | 7.4±1.5 | 0.14 |
| Antenatal corticosteroids | 38 (97) | 115 (83) | 0.02 |
| Histological chorioamnionitis | 2 (5) | 34 (31) | 0.006 |
| Pre-eclampsia | 6 (15) | 9 (6) | 0.08 |
| Birth weight z-score | −1.22±0.8 | 0.31±1.04 | <0.001 |
| Small for gestational age | 15 (38) | 9 (6) | <0.001 |
| Respiratory distress syndrome | 32 (82) | 101 (75) | 0.23 |
| Need of 2 or more doses of surfactant | 10 (26) | 36 (26) | 0.97 |
| Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn | 5 (12) | 13 (9) | 0.53 |
| Length of ventilation (hours) | 305±393 | 226±347 | 0.22 |
| Length of O2-therapy (hours) | 907±989 | 556±837 | 0.02 |
| Pneumonia | 17 (44) | 41 (29) | 0.10 |
| Sepsis | 14 (36) | 51 (37) | 0.93 |
| Patent ductus arteriosus—pharmacological treatment | 12 (31) | 65 (47) | 0.09 |
| Patent ductus arteriosus—surgical closure | 4 (10) | 18 (13) | 0.65 |
| Survival | 35 (90) | 118 (85) | 0.44 |
| Bronchopulmonary dysplasia* | 12 (33) | 8 (7) | <0.001 |
| Severe intraventricular haemorrhage | 1 (3) | 21 (15) | 0.03 |
Data expressed as mean ± SD or n (%).
*Data are referred to the survived babies at 36 weeks postmenstrual age.
FGR, fetal growth restriction.