Neonatal Anthropometric Measurements to Predict Birth Weight by Ultrasound.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a more accurate ultrasound birth weight ( BW ) model using neonatal anthropometric measurements. STUDY DESIGN: Two hundred thirty - one newborns were evaluated. Measurements included weight; head, chest, and abdominal circumferences ( umbilicus and liver ), humerus, and femur lengths. Infants were randomly assigned into two groups (G[SUB1] and G[SUB2]. Anthropometric measurements that are obtainable by ultrasound were generated from G[SUB1]. Stepwise regression and a bootstrap analysis were used to create the prediction models. The models were validated using G[SUB2] RESULTS: The final stepwise regression model included FL and circumferences of the head, chest, and abdomen. The correlations were: G[SUB1] : R[SUP2] = 0.91, p < 0.001; G[SUB2]: R[SUP2] = 0.90 p < 0.001. There was no difference between derived and actual BW in G[SUB1] (p = 0.42 ) or G[SUB2] (p = 0.28 ). The mean absolute percent error between the prediction model and actual BW was 3.8%. CONCLUSION: Neonatal anthropometric models are strongly predictive of actual BW. This model will be tested prospectively using ultrasound to predict fetal weight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]