1. What is Age Adjustment for Prematurity?

Age adjustment for prematurity accounts for the developmental differences in premature infants by calculating their corrected age based on gestational weeks at birth. This helps in proper developmental assessment and milestone tracking.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the prematurity age adjustment formula:

Where:

• \( \text{Chronological Age} \) — Actual age since birth in years
• \( \text{Gestational Weeks} \) — Weeks of gestation at birth (20-45 weeks)
• 40 — Standard full-term gestation in weeks
• 52 — Weeks in a year

Explanation: The formula subtracts the degree of prematurity (difference from full-term) from the chronological age to get a developmentally-adjusted age.

3. Importance of Age Adjustment

Details: Corrected age is crucial for assessing growth, development, and milestone achievement in preterm infants, especially in the first 2-3 years of life.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter chronological age in years (can include decimal for months) and gestational age at birth in weeks (20-45). Both values must be valid.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Until what age should prematurity be adjusted for?
A: Typically until 2-3 years chronological age, though this varies by context and purpose of assessment.

Q2: How does this differ from simple weeks subtraction?
A: This converts the prematurity weeks to years for proper comparison with chronological age in years.

Q3: What's considered full-term gestation?
A: 39-40 weeks is considered full-term. Less than 37 weeks is preterm.

Q4: When is adjusted age most important?
A: Most critical in the first year, especially for very preterm infants (<32 weeks).

Q5: Should this be used for vaccine scheduling?
A: No, vaccines should be given based on chronological age regardless of prematurity.