Table 1 Demographics of the 3587 very preterm infants included in the study

Male

1938(60.2)

113(58.9)

111(61.7)

0.857

BW (g)*

1210.3 ± 217.1

1120.1 ± 225.0

1091.5 ± 221.3

< 0.001

GA (weeks)*

28.8 ± 3.7

27.9 ± 3.3

27.6 ± 3.5

< 0.001

Mean WG rate at the third week of life (g/d)*

22.1 ± 20.1

21.8 ± 15.0

18.5 ± 16.1

< 0.001

Mean WG rate at the fourth week of life (g/d)*

24.6 ± 23.1

20.6 ± 17.8

16.4 ± 12.7

< 0.001

Mean WG rate at the fifth week of life (g/d)*

19.5 ± 13.4

13.2 ± 14.6

11.2 ± 12.1

< 0.001

Mean WG rate at the Sixth week of life (g/d)*

16.8 ± 12.7

13.8 ± 14.5

13.2 ± 11.3

< 0.001