Objective: To study the clinical features of feeding intolerance in preterm infants in order to provide clinical evidence for preventing feeding intolerance.
Methods: A total of 716 preterm infants hospitalized in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University between January 2007 and December 2009 were enrolled. The clinical data of the infants were retrospectively studied.
Results: Feeding intolerance occurred in 197 (27.5%) out of 716 infants, with an incidence of 76.4% in the very low birth weight infants. Simple gastric retention (47.2%) was found as the most common clinical manifestation. Feeding intolerance usually occurred within 3 days after feeding. Compared with the preterm infants with feeding success, the preterm infants with feeding intolerance showed lower gestational age and birth weight, more delayed feeding and higher rate of asphyxia and respiratory diseases (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the gender, maternal age, ethnic group, delivery way and the incidence of fetal distress between the two groups. With increasing gestational age, increasing birth weight, early feeding, the incidence of feeding intolerance in preterm infants was reduced.
Conclusions: The low gestational age, low birth weight, delayed feeding and complications may be associated with the development of feeding intolerance in preterm infants.