It was authored by dr n. med. Justyna Zamojska, dr n. med. Katarzyna Niewiadomska-Jarosik, dr n. med. Beata Kierzkowska, dr n. med. Marta Gruca, and prof. dr hab. n. med. Elżbieta Smolewska - all from the Medical University of Lodz, and dr hab. inż. Agnieszka Wosiak, university professor, from the TUL Institute of Information Technology.
Lipid disorders are one of the risk factors in cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to assess the early childhood lipid profile in a population of Polish children born small for gestational age (SGA). The article has it that
‘It is estimated that the global incidence of low birth weight ranges from 15% to 20% of all births, corresponding to more than 20 million births annually’.
140 subjects aged 5 to 11 years were included in the study, 93 of whom had low birth weight, too low for their gestational age (SGA), and 47 in the control group, with normal birth weight (AGA – appropriate for gestational age).
In conclusion, the authors of the article stated: ‘This study contributes to the professional literature by demonstrating that children born SGA, with no differences in weight and BMI, have an abnormal lipid profile compared to AGA children. This could be a potential risk factor for cardiovascular diseases in adulthood. Therefore, it is justified to conduct a study on a larger group of patients born SGA.(…) To prevent cardiovascular complications, this group should be closely monitored by a team of specialists, including pediatricians, cardiologists, pediatric cardiologists, endocrinologists, and pediatric nutritionists.’
To find out more about the study and the contribution of TUL IT professor Agnieszka Wosiak, please go to the article posted on TUL’s blog A New Website for Technology.