Importance of antenatal identification of small for gestational age fetuses on perinatal and childhood outcomes: A register‐based cohort study

Introduction Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is associated with increased risk for stillbirth, perinatal morbidity, cerebral palsy, neurodevelopmental disorders and cardiovascular disease later in life. Identifying small‐for‐gestational‐age (SGA) fetuses is crucial for the diagnosis of FGR. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between antenatal identification of SGA fetuses and severe adverse perinatal and childhood outcome. Material and methods A register‐based cohort study of all newborns delivered in Stockholm in 2014 and 2017. Inclusion criteria: singleton pregnancies without chromosomal aberrations or structural abnormalities, with a gestational age at delivery between 22+0 and 43+0 (n = 48 843). Data from childbirth records were linked to data from nationwide Swedish registers. Pregnancy including offspring data were reviewed. Adverse outcomes for non‐identified and identified SGA newborns were compared using logistic regression models. Primary outcome was a composite outcome called severe adverse outcome, defined as at least one of the following: stillbirth, severe newborn distress (Apgar score