corrected gestational age
The age a premature infant would be if they had been born at full term, calculated by subtracting the weeks of prematurity from the chronological age.
Full Definition
Corrected gestational age, also known as adjusted age or corrected age, is a calculation used for premature infants to account for their degree of prematurity when assessing growth and development. It is calculated by subtracting the number of weeks the infant was born early from their current chronological age. For example, a 6-month-old infant born 8 weeks early would have a corrected gestational age of 4 months. This adjustment is important for accurately assessing developmental milestones, growth parameters, and expected capabilities, as premature infants should not be expected to meet the same benchmarks as full-term infants of the same chronological age until they reach approximately 2-3 years of age.
Usage
Usage note: Essential concept for premature infant follow-up; always specify which age is being referenced in documentation.
In Context
- "When evaluating developmental milestones, always use corrected gestational age for premature infants until age 2." — Developmental assessment guideline
- "The infant's growth was appropriate for his corrected gestational age of 8 months despite being 10 months old chronologically." — Pediatric follow-up visit