corrected gestational age
Age calculation for premature infants that adjusts chronological age based on expected due date rather than actual birth date.
Full Definition
A critical age calculation used in neonatal and pediatric medicine to assess development and growth in infants born prematurely. Corrected gestational age adjusts the infant's chronological age by subtracting the number of weeks the baby was born early from their current age. This adjustment continues to be used until approximately 2-3 years of age and is essential for accurate assessment of developmental milestones, growth parameters, and medical interventions. For example, a 6-month-old infant born 8 weeks early would have a corrected age of 4 months when evaluating developmental expectations.
Usage
Usage note: Essential to specify when used in growth and developmental assessments of preterm infants.
In Context
- "The infant's corrected gestational age of 38 weeks was used to assess appropriate feeding milestones." — Developmental assessment
- "Growth charts should be plotted using corrected gestational age for all premature infants until 24 months." — Clinical guideline