Deficit of Fat Free Mass in Very Preterm Infants at Discharge is Associated with Neurological Impairment at Age 2 Years

Preterm infants have a deficit of fat-free mass accretion during hospitalization. This study suggests that z score of fat-free mass at discharge is associated with neurologic outcome (P = .003) at 2 years of age, independent of sex, gestational age, and birth weight z score. Interventions to promote quality of growth should be considered.