ObjectiveTo explore the relationship between the catch-up situation of physical development and neuropsychological development in 2-year-old SGA children.

MethodsA longitudinal follow-up observation was conducted in 185 SGA children who were recruited between January 1, 2016 and January 1, 2017.The height, weight, head circumference and other physical development indicators were measured by unified methods at the age of 24 months.Gesell development scale was used to evaluate the neuropsychological development of catch-up and non-catch-up children.

ResultsIn 179 out of 185 SGA children who received physical development examination 56.98%(102/179) had achieved catch-up growth.The rate of abnormal/suspected-abnormal neuropsychological development in the full-term SGA children without Shanghai household registration was higher(P < 0.05).After adjusting the factors of household registration and gestational age, there was no significant difference in neuropsychological development between the catch-up and non-catch-up children(P>0.05).

ConclusionSGA children, whose physical development did not reach the catch-up growth at the age of 2 years are not obviously backward in neuropsychological development.Catch-up growth for the children with intrauterine growth retardation mainly shows the positive significance in height and weight.The significance of catch-up growth in neuropsychological development remains to be studied.