Incidence and Risk Factors of Late-Onset Hypoglycemia in Extremely Low Gestational Age or Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants

Why clinicians should know about it

• Picked for Neonatology (paper of the day, 21 September 2026): Late‑onset hypoglycemia in ELGA/ELBW infants

Abstract

AIM: To determine incidence and risk factors associated with late-onset hypoglycemia in extremely preterm or extremely low birth weight infants. METHODS: Retrospective single-center cohort study including infants with a gestational age < 28 weeks or birth weight < 1000 g. Late-onset hypoglycemia was defined as any blood glucose level < 2.6 mmol/L occurring after Day 7 of life in infants on full enteral nutrition. RESULTS: Out of 211 included infants, 41 (19.4%) experienced at least one episode of late-onset hypoglycemia. Late-onset hypoglycemia was negatively associated with gestational age (p = 0.013), birth weight (p < 0.001), birth weight z-score (p < 0.001) and maternal arterial hypertension (p = 0.003). CONCLUSION: The risk of late-onset hypoglycemia is considerable in infants with a gestational age < 28 weeks or birth weight under 1000 g. Therefore, careful glucose monitoring beyond the first week of life is recommended for this vulnerable population.

Abstract as published, via PubMed.