Eight-year outcome in infants with birth weight of 500 to 999 grams: continuing regional study of 1979 and 1980 births. Victorian Infant Collaborative Study Group

Completeness of Retention Data and Determinants of Attrition in Birth Cohorts of Very Preterm Infants: A Systematic Review

Background: Birth cohorts provided essential knowledge for clinical and public health decision-making. However, little is known about retention and determinants of attrition in these specific longitudinal studies, although characterizing predictors of attrition sets the path to mitigate its occurrence and to promote valid inferences. We systematically reviewed retention in follow-ups of birth cohorts of very preterm or very low birth weight infants and the determinants of attrition. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42017082672. Methods: Publications were identified through PubMed®, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases from inception to December 2017. Studies were included when reporting at least one of the following: retention at follow-ups, reasons for attrition, or characteristics of non-participants. Quality assessment was conducted using the completeness of the report of participation features in the articles. Non-participant's characteristics were presented using descriptive statistics. Local polynomial regression was used to describe overall retention trends over years of follow-up. Results: We identified 57 eligible publications, reporting on 39 birth cohorts and describing 83 follow-up evaluations. The overall median retention was 87% (p25-p75:75.8-93.6), ranging from 14.6 to 100%. Overall, retention showed a downward trend with increasing child age. Completeness of retention report was considered "enough" in only 36.8% of publications. Considering the 33 (57.9%) publications providing information on participants and non-participants, and although no formal meta-analysis was performed, it was evident that participants lost to follow-up were more often male, had foreign-born, multiparous, and younger mothers, and with a lower socioeconomic status. Conclusion: This systematic review evidenced a lack of detailed data on retention, which may threaten the potential use of evidence derived from cohort studies of very preterm infants for clinical and public health purpose. It supports the requirement for a standardized presentation of retention features responding to current guidelines.

Predicting School-Aged Cognitive Impairment in Children Born Very Preterm

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Children born very preterm (VPT) are at high risk of cognitive impairment that impacts their educational and social opportunities. This study examined the predictive accuracy of assessments at 2, 4, 6, and 9 years in identifying preterm children with cognitive impairment by 12 years.

METHODS

We prospectively studied a regional cohort of 103 children born VPT (≤32 weeks' gestation) and 109 children born term from birth to corrected age 12 years. Cognitive functioning was assessed by using age-appropriate, standardized measures: Bayley Scales of Infant Development, Second Edition (age 2); Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (ages 4 and 6); and Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fourth Edition (ages 9 and 12).

RESULTS

By 12 years, children born VPT were more likely to have severe (odds ratio 3.9; 95% confidence interval 1.1-13.5) or any (odds ratio 3.2; 95% confidence interval 1.8-5.6) cognitive impairment compared with children born term. Adopting a severe cognitive impairment criterion at age 2 under-identified 44% of children born VPT with later severe impairment, whereas a more inclusive earlier criterion identified all severely affected children at 12 years. Prediction improved with age, with any delay at age 6 having the highest sensitivity (85%) and positive predictive value (66%) relative to earlier age assessments. Inclusion of family-social circumstances further improved diagnostic accuracy.

CONCLUSIONS

Cognitive risk prediction improves with age, with assessments at 6 years offering optimal diagnostic accuracy. Intervention for children with early mild delay may be beneficial, especially for those raised in socially disadvantaged family contexts.

Deep learning predicts extreme preterm birth from electronic health records

OBJECTIVE

Models for predicting preterm birth generally have focused on very preterm (28-32 weeks) and moderate to late preterm (32-37 weeks) settings. However, extreme preterm birth (EPB), before the 28th week of gestational age, accounts for the majority of newborn deaths. We investigated the extent to which deep learning models that consider temporal relations documented in electronic health records (EHRs) can predict EPB.

STUDY DESIGN

EHR data were subject to word embedding and a temporal deep learning model, in the form of recurrent neural networks (RNNs) to predict EPB. Due to the low prevalence of EPB, the models were trained on datasets where controls were undersampled to balance the case-control ratio. We then applied an ensemble approach to group the trained models to predict EPB in an evaluation setting with a nature EPB ratio. We evaluated the RNN ensemble models with 10 years of EHR data from 25,689 deliveries at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. We compared their performance with traditional machine learning models (logistical regression, support vector machine, gradient boosting) trained on the datasets with balanced and natural EPB ratio. Risk factors associated with EPB were identified using an adjusted odds ratio.

RESULTS

The RNN ensemble models trained on artificially balanced data achieved a higher AUC (0.827 vs. 0.744) and sensitivity (0.965 vs. 0.682) than those RNN models trained on the datasets with naturally imbalanced EPB ratio. In addition, the AUC (0.827) and sensitivity (0.965) of the RNN ensemble models were better than the AUC (0.777) and sensitivity (0.819) of the best baseline models trained on balanced data. Also, risk factors, including twin pregnancy, short cervical length, hypertensive disorder, systemic lupus erythematosus, and hydroxychloroquine sulfate, were found to be associated with EPB at a significant level.

CONCLUSION

Temporal deep learning can predict EPB up to 8 weeks earlier than its occurrence. Accurate prediction of EPB may allow healthcare organizations to allocate resources effectively and ensure patients receive appropriate care.

Neurological sequelae of healthcare-associated sepsis in very-low-birthweight infants: Umbrella review and evidence-based outcome tree

Sepsis is a frequent cause of death in very-low-birthweight infants and often results in neurological impairment. Its attributable risk of sequelae has not been systematically assessed. To establish an outcome tree for mapping the burden of neonatal sepsis, we performed systematic literature searches to identify systematic reviews addressing sequelae of neonatal sepsis. We included cohort studies and performed meta-analyses of attributable risks. Evidence quality was assessed using GRADE. Two systematic reviews met inclusion criteria. The first included nine cohort studies with 5,620 participants and five outcomes (neurodevelopmental impairment, cerebral palsy, vision impairment, hearing impairment, death). Pooled risk differences varied between 4% (95% confidence interval (CI):2-10) and 13% (95% CI:5-20). From the second review we analysed four studies with 472 infants. Positive predictive value of neurodevelopmental impairment for later cognitive impairment ranged between 67% (95% CI:22-96) and 83% (95% CI:36-100). Neonatal sepsis increases risk of permanent neurological impairment. Effect size varies by outcome, with evidence quality being low to very low. Data were used to construct an outcome tree for neonatal sepsis. Attributable risk estimates for sequelae following neonatal sepsis are suitable for burden estimation and may serve as outcome parameters in interventional studies.

Predictive value of the Bayley scales of infant development on development of very preterm/very low birth weight children: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The Bayley scales of infant development (BSID) is the most widely used measure to assess neurodevelopment of very preterm (gestational age ≤32 weeks) and very low birth weight (VLBW, ≤1500 g) infants in the first three years of life. This meta-analysis determines the predictive value of the mental developmental index (MDI) and the psychomotor developmental index (PDI)/motor composite, collectively referred to as Bayley motor scale, of the BSID-I, -II and Bayley-III for later cognitive and motor functioning in very preterm/VLBW children.

METHODS

Cochrane Library, PubMed, PsychINFO and CINAHL were searched for English-language peer-reviewed studies published before March 2013. Studies were included if they reported odds ratios or correlations between the MDI or Bayley motor scale scores obtained in the first three years of life, and standardized cognitive or motor assessment obtained later in life in very preterm/VLBW children. Meta-analytic methods were applied to aggregate available data.

RESULTS

A total of 16 studies met inclusion criteria. Across 14 studies (n=1330 children), MDI scores were strongly predictive for later cognitive functioning, r=0.61 (95% CI: 0.57-0.64), explained variance 37%, p<.001. The relationship between MDI scores and later cognitive function was not mediated by birth weight (p=.56), gestational age (p=.70), and time interval between assessments (p=.55). Across five studies (n=555 children), Bayley motor scale scores were moderately predictive for later motor function, r=0.34 (95% CI: 0.26-0.42), explained variance 12%, p<.001.

CONCLUSIONS

In very preterm/VLBW children, MDI scores explain 37% of the variance in later cognitive functioning, whereas Bayley motor scale scores explain 12% of later motor function. Thus a large proportion of the variance remains unexplained, underlining the importance of enhancing prediction of developmental delay in very preterm children.

Prevailing clinical practices regarding screening for retinopathy of prematurity among pediatricians in India: a pilot survey

AIMS

To evaluate the prevailing practices for proper screening and referral scheme among Indian pediatricians for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Pediatricians registered with Indian Academy of Pediatrics from six states of India were selected randomly and were telephonically interviewed in accordance with a preformed questionnaire which comprised of questions regarding demographic factors, number of premature children seen per month, awareness and referral scheme to ophthalmologist; responses thus obtained were analyzed.

RESULTS

Hundred percent knowledge about ROP and need for screening in premature babies was observed among the respondents. However, only 135 (58%) pediatricians always referred for ROP screening, 19 (8%) referred only sometimes and 80 (34%) did not refer at all. Consistent referral protocols taking into account all plausible risk factors for ROP were followed by only 25% of those who always referred. Major deterrent in ROP screening was perceived as non-availability of trained ophthalmologists.

CONCLUSIONS

Only 14.5% of total pediatricians contacted were following international recommendations for ROP referral. Screening for ROP remains dismal as observed in this pilot survey as a consequence of non-availability of trained ophthalmologists as well as inconsistent screening guidelines.

Sleep-wake transitions in premature neonates predict early development

OBJECTIVE

To identify patterns of sleep-wake transitions in the neonatal period that might differentiate premature infants who would show better or worse outcomes in multiple developmental domains across the first 5 years of life.

METHODS

Participants were 143 low birth weight premature infants (mean birth weight: 1482 g; mean gestational age [GA]: 31.82 weeks). Sleep states were observed at a GA of 37 weeks in 10-second epochs over 4 consecutive evening hours and were analyzed through mathematical clustering. Neurobehavioral maturation was evaluated with the Neonatal Behavior Assessment Scale at discharge, emotional regulation was assessed during infant-mother and infant-father interactions at 3 and 6 months, cognitive development was measured at 6, 12, and 24 months, and verbal IQ, executive functions, and symbolic competence were tested at 5 years.

RESULTS

Three types of state-transition patterns were identified, and no differences in birth weight, GA, or medical risk between the 3 groups were found. Infants whose sleep-state transitions were mainly characterized by shifts between quiet sleep and wakefulness exhibited the best development, including greater neonatal neuromaturation, less negative emotionality, better cognitive development, and better verbal, symbolic, and executive competences at 5 years. In comparison, infants who cycled mainly between states of high arousal, such as active sleep and cry, or between short episodes of active and quiet sleep showed poorer outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Defining sleep organization on the basis of transitions between states proved useful for identifying risk and resilience indicators in neonatal behavior to predict trajectories of neurobehavioral, emotional, and cognitive growth.

Risk factors affecting school readiness in premature infants with respiratory distress syndrome

OBJECTIVE

With advances in neonatal care, more children born prematurely are successfully reaching school age. It is unknown how many will be ready for school and what factors affect school readiness. Our objective was to assess readiness of children born prematurely for entry into public school, and determine risk factors associated with lack of school readiness in this population.

METHODS

This was a single-center prospective cohort study. Follow- up data were collected for 135 of 167 (81%) surviving premature infants with RDS requiring surfactant-replacement therapy. The children were seen between July 2005 and September 2006 (average age: 5.7 +/- 1.0 years) and underwent standardized neurodevelopmental and health assessments and socioeconomic status classification. A 4-level school-readiness score was constructed by using each child's standardized scores on assessments of basic concepts (Bracken School-Readiness Assessment), perceptual skills (Visual-Motor Integration Test), receptive vocabulary (Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, Third Edition), daily living functional skills (Pediatric Functional Independence Measure), and presence of sensory impairments or autism. Proportional odds models were used to identify risk factors predicting lower school-readiness levels.

RESULTS

Mean birth weight was 1016 +/- 391 g, and mean gestational age was 27.5 +/- 2.6 weeks. Ninety-one (67%) children were school-ready. Using multivariate analysis, male gender, chronic lung disease, and severe intraventricular hemorrhage or periventricular leukomalacia were associated with lower school-readiness levels. However, the most powerful factor determining school-readiness level was low socioeconomic status.

CONCLUSION

Interventions targeting neonatal morbidities may be much less effective at improving overall performance at school age compared with the effect of the impoverished social environment.

Neurosensory disabilities at school age in geographic cohorts of extremely low birth weight children born between the 1970s and the 1990s

OBJECTIVE

To contrast the rates of neurosensory disabilities at age 8 years in extremely low birth weight (ELBW; birth weight 500 to 999 g) children born in the state of Victoria, Australia in 4 four distinct eras from the late 1970s to the late 1990s.

STUDY DESIGN

Study subjects were assessed at age 8 years. Results were compared among 4 ELBW cohorts (87 of 89 children born in 1979-1980, 206 of 212 born in 1985-1987, 224 of 241 born in 1991-1992, and 160 of 170 born in 1997), and between each of these ELBW cohorts and normal birth weight (NBW; birth weight > 2499 g) controls.

RESULTS

The survival rate for ELBW children rose from 25% for the 1979-1980 cohort to 73% for the 1997 cohort. No statistically significant differences in the disability rates were seen in the 4 eras; however, in the 1997 cohort, disability rates were significantly higher in the ELBW children compared with NBW controls: mild disability, 36.7% vs 9.8%; moderate disability, 10.1% vs 2.3%; and severe disability, 8.2% vs 0.6%.

CONCLUSIONS

The survival rate of ELBW children continues to rise over time. Despite this, however, the rates of disability in these vulnerable children at school age have remained stable and high relative to controls.

An overview of mortality and sequelae of preterm birth from infancy to adulthood

Survival rates have greatly improved in recent years for infants of borderline viability; however, these infants remain at risk of developing a wide array of complications, not only in the neonatal unit, but also in the long term. Morbidity is inversely related to gestational age; however, there is no gestational age, including term, that is wholly exempt. Neurodevelopmental disabilities and recurrent health problems take a toll in early childhood. Subsequently hidden disabilities such as school difficulties and behavioural problems become apparent and persist into adolescence. Reassuringly, however, most children born very preterm adjust remarkably well during their transition into adulthood. Because mortality rates have fallen, the focus for perinatal interventions is to develop strategies to reduce long-term morbidity, especially the prevention of brain injury and abnormal brain development. In addition, follow-up to middle age and beyond is warranted to identify the risks, especially for cardiovascular and metabolic disorders that are likely to be experienced by preterm survivors.

Gender differences in neurodevelopmental outcomes among extremely preterm, extremely-low-birthweight infants

AIM

To determine whether gender-specific responses to perinatal and neonatal events and exposures explain the male disadvantage in early childhood outcomes.

METHODS

Infants were in the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Neonatal Research Network, born 1/1/1997-12/31/2000, <28 wk, with neurodevelopmental follow-up at 18-22 mo corrected age. We evaluated and compared univariate and multivariate associations of risk factors with neurodevelopmental outcomes for girls and boys. Neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) was one or more of the following: moderate--severe cerebral palsy (CP), Bayley Mental (MDI) or Psychomotor (PDI) Development Indices <70, deafness or blindness.

RESULTS

Boys (n=1216) were more likely than girls (n=1337) to have adverse outcomes (moderate--severe CP: 10.7% vs 7.3%; MDI < 70: 41.9% vs 27.1%; NDI: 48.1% vs 34.1%). Major risk factors were also more common in boys. Independent multivariate associations of risk factors with outcome differed by gender, but not consistently in favor of girls. In multivariate models including both girls and boys, male gender remained an independent risk factor for MDI < 70 (2.0, 95% CI 1.6-2.5) and NDI (1.8, 95% CI 1.5-2.2).

CONCLUSION

Perinatal, neonatal and early childhood factors confer similar incremental risk or protection to boys and girls, but boys appear to have inherently greater baseline risk. Unmeasured biological variables likely contribute to the preterm male neurodevelopmental outcome disadvantage.

Neonatology fellowship training in research pertaining to development and follow-up

The methodology of the study of the short- and long-term outcomes has changed over the 30-40 years since the indroduction of neonatal intensive care. The training of neonatal fellows in research pertaining to development and follow-up currently needs to include study of epidemiology and biostatistics, knowledge concerning normal and abnormal growth and development throughout the life span and clinical skills and/or knowledge concerning the assessment of neurologic and developmental outcomes.

Palatal development of preterm and low birthweight infants compared to term infants - What do we know? Part 1: The palate of the term newborn

Background

The evidence on prematurity as 'a priori' a risk for palatal disturbances that increase the need for orthodontic or orthognathic treatment is still weak. Further well-designed clinical studies are needed. The objective of this review is to provide a fundamental analysis of methodologies, confounding factors, and outcomes of studies on palatal development. One focus of this review is the analysis of studies on the palate of the term newborn, since knowing what is 'normal' is a precondition of being able to assess abnormalities.

Methods

A search profile based on Cochrane search strategies applied to 10 medical databases was used to identify existing studies. Articles, mainly those published before 1960, were identified from hand searches in textbooks, encyclopedias, reference lists and bibliographies. Sources in English, German, and French of more than a century were included. Data for term infants were recalculated if particular information about weight, length, or maturity was given. The extracted values, especially those from non-English paper sources, were provided unfiltered for comparison.

Results

The search strategy yielded 182 articles, of which 155 articles remained for final analysis. Morphology of the term newborn's palate was of great interest in the first half of the last century. Two general methodologies were used to assess palatal morphology: visual and metrical descriptions. Most of the studies on term infants suffer from lack of reliability tests. The groove system was recognized as the distinctive feature of the infant palate. The shape of the palate of the term infant may vary considerably, both visually and metrically. Gender, race, mode of delivery, and nasal deformities were identified as causes contributing to altered palatal morphology. Until today, anatomical features of the newborn's palate are subject to a non-uniform nomenclature.

Conclusion

Today's knowledge of a newborn's 'normal' palatal morphology is based on non-standardized and limited methodologies for measuring a three-dimensional shape. This shortcoming increases bias and is the reason for contradictory research results, especially if pathologic conditions like syndromes or prematurity are involved. Adequate measurement techniques are needed and the 'normal palatal morphology' should be defined prior to new clinical studies on palatal development.

Poor predictive validity of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development for cognitive function of extremely low birth weight children at school age

OBJECTIVE

The Bayley Scales of Infant Development, Second Edition (BSID II) are commonly used to assess outcomes of extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants. We sought to assess the predictive validity of the BSID II Mental Developmental Index (MDI) for cognitive function at school age.

DESIGN/METHODS

Of 330 ELBW infants admitted in 1992-1995, 238 (72%) survived to the age of 8 years, of whom 200 (84%) were tested at both 20 months' corrected age (CA) and 8 years. Mean birth weight was 811 g, mean gestational age was 26.4 weeks, 41% were boys, and 60% were black. Measures included the BSID II at 20 months' CA and the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (KABC) Mental Processing Composite (MPC) at 8 years' postnatal age. BSID II MDI and MPC scores were compared and the predictive validity calculated for all 200 ELBW children and for the 154 ELBW neurosensory-intact subgroup. Predictors of stability or change in cognitive scores were examined via logistic regression adjusting for gender and sociodemographic status.

RESULTS

For all ELBW children, the mean MDI was 75.6 +/- 16 versus a mean KABC of 87.8 +/- 19. For the neurosensory-intact subgroup, the mean MDI was 79.3 +/- 16 and the mean KABC was 92.3 +/- 15. Rates of cognitive impairment, defined as an MDI or KABC of <70, dropped from 39% at 20 months' CA to 16% at 8 years for the total ELBW population and from 29% to 7% for the neurosensory-intact subgroup. The positive predictive value of having an MPC of <70 given an MDI of <70 was 0.37 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.27, 0.49) for all ELBW infants, 0.20 (95% CI: 0.10, 0.35) for the neurosensory-intact subgroup, and 0.61 (95% CI: 0.42, 0.77) for the neurosensory-impaired subgroup. The negative predictive values were 0.98, 0.99, and 0.85 for the 3 groups, respectively. Neurosensory impairment at 20 months' CA predicted lack of improvement of cognitive function (odds ratio: 6.9; 95% CI: 2.4, 20.2). Children whose cognitive scores improved between 20 months and 8 years had significantly better school performance than those whose scores stayed at <70, but they did less well than those whose scores were persistently >70.

CONCLUSIONS

The predictive validity of a subnormal MDI for cognitive function at school age is poor but better for ELBW children who have neurosensory impairments. We are concerned that decisions to provide intensive care for ELBW infants in the delivery room might be biased by reported high rates of cognitive impairments based on the use and presumptive validity of the BSID II MDI.

Regionalized long-term follow-up

The importance of population-based long-term follow-up studies of geographically determined cohorts to evaluate the effectiveness, efficiency and availability of a regionalized perinatal-neonatal care programme is demonstrated by the Victorian Infant Collaborative Study Group. The survival and quality of survival of consecutively born extremely-low-birthweight infants below 1000 g or extremely preterm infants below 28 weeks' gestation in the state of Victoria were assessed up to 14 years of age over four distinctive eras: 1979-1989, 1985-1987, 1991-1992 and 1997. Both survival and quality-adjusted survival rates rose progressively in all birth weight and gestation subgroups, associated with progressively more such infants being born in level III perinatal centres. Cost-effectiveness and cost-utility ratios remained stable overall, with efficiency gains in the smaller infants over time. Regionalized long-term follow-up provides unique information that is not available from institution-based studies, which is vital to the regional organization of perinatal-neonatal care.

Educational and social competencies at 8 years in children with threshold retinopathy of prematurity in the CRYO-ROP multicenter study

OBJECTIVE

To describe the educational status and special education services at 8 years among children who had threshold retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

METHODS

A prospective study was conducted of a cohort of children who had birth weight of <1251 g and threshold ROP in the Cryotherapy for Retinopathy of Prematurity multicenter study. At age 5.5 years, visual status, functional skills, and social information were obtained. At 8 years, special education classes, developmental disabilities, rehabilitation therapies, and academic and social competencies were determined by questionnaire. Visual status was considered favorable/unfavorable on the basis of the better eye.

RESULTS

Of 255 survivors, 216 (85%) were evaluated at both 5.5 and 8 years. Major impairments were significantly more prevalent in children with unfavorable versus favorable visual status: cerebral palsy (39% vs 16%), developmental disability (57% vs 22%), autism (9% vs 1%), and epilepsy (23% vs 3%). Special education services (63% vs 27%), below-grade-level academic performance (84% vs 48%), and school-based rehabilitation services were significantly less common in children with favorable visual status. Favorable visual status, favorable functional ratings at 5.5 years, markers of higher socioeconomic status, and nonblack race were associated with significantly lower rates of both special education placement and below-grade-level academic performance at age 8. On multivariate logistic regression, only favorable visual status and functional status remained significant predictors for decreasing special education placement.

CONCLUSION

Threshold ROP is associated with high rates of developmental, educational, and social challenges in middle childhood; preserved vision was associated with a clear advantage, with more than half of the children with favorable visual status performing at grade level.

Trends in place of birth for preterm infants in New South Wales, 1992-2001

OBJECTIVE

To examine trends in preterm births, especially those less than 33 weeks gestation, occurring in perinatal centres in New South Wales (NSW) from 1992 to 2001.

METHODS

Population data were obtained from the NSW Midwives' Data Collection. Trends in the proportion of births in perinatal centres by gestation and by type of preterm birth (spontaneous or elective), and in Apgar scores and neonatal mortality were determined.

RESULTS

The preterm birth rate increased from 6.1% in 1992 to 6.7% in 2001. Factors contributing to the increase in preterm births were multiple births and elective preterm deliveries. Births less than 33 weeks gestation in perinatal centres increased from 76% to 83% and for multiple births from 77% to 87%. This coincided with a decrease in 1-minute Apgar scores less than 4 but no significant change in 5-minute Apgar scores or neonatal mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Progress has been made towards the National Health and Medical Research Council guideline that births less than 33 weeks gestation occur in perinatal centres. Preterm births are increasing, creating greater demands for neonatal intensive care unit care and ventilation services.

Longitudinal motor development of "apparently normal" high-risk infants at 18 months, 3 and 5 years

BACKGROUND

Motor development appears to be more affected by premature birth than other developmental domains, however few studies have specifically investigated the development of gross and fine motor skills in this population.

AIM

To examine longitudinal motor development in a group of "apparently normal" high-risk infants.

SETTING

Developmental follow-up clinic in a perinatal centre.

STUDY DESIGN

Longitudinal observational cohort study.

SUBJECTS

Fifty-eight infants born less than 29 weeks gestation and/or 1000 g and without disabilities detected at 12 months.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Longitudinal gross and fine motor skills at 18 months, 3 and 5 years using the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales. The HOME scale provided information of the home environment as a stimulus for development.

RESULTS

A large proportion (54% at 18 months, 47% at 3 years and 64% at 5 years) of children continued to have fine motor deficits from 18 months to 5 years. The proportion of infants with gross motor deficits significantly increased over this period (14%, 33% and 81%, p<0.001), particularly for the 'micropreemies' (born <750 g). In multivariate analyses, gross motor development was positively influenced by the quality of the home environment.

CONCLUSIONS

A large proportion of high-risk infants continued to have fine motor deficits, reflecting an underlying problem with fine motor skills. The proportion of infants with gross motor deficits significantly increased, as test demands became more challenging. In addition, the development of gross and fine motor skills appears to be influenced differently by the home environment.

Retinopathy of prematurity: recent advances in our understanding

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) has been recognised as an important cause of childhood visual impairment and blindness since the 1940s when improved facilities and treatment increased the survival rate of premature infants. Although its incidence and severity have been decreasing in developed countries over the past two decades, both are increasing in developing nations. ROP is consequently targeted as an important but avoidable disease. This review provides an updated summary and discussion of much of the work that has been produced through population, animal, cell culture, and genetic research. The authors examine the prevalence, risk factors, and possible causes of the disease with a particular focus on genetic studies. They conclude that while significant reductions in the disease have occurred in developed countries, further research is required to fully understand and prevent the disease. In the meantime, development and implementation of appropriate screening and treatment strategies will be critical in reducing blindness in developing countries.

Behavior, pain perception, and the extremely low-birth weight survivor

This article explores the literature concerning responses to pain of both premature and term-born newborn infants, the evidence for short-term and long-term effects of pain, and behavioral sequelae in individuals who have experienced repeated early pain in neonatal life as they mature. There is no doubt that pain causes stress in babies and this in turn may adversely affect long-term neurodevelopmental outcome. Although there are methods for assessing dimensions of acute reactivity to pain in an experimental setting, there are no very good measures available at the present time that can be used clinically. In the clinical setting repeated or chronic pain is more likely the norm rather than infrequent discrete noxious stimuli of the sort that can be readily studied. The wind-up phenomenon suggests that, exposed to a cascade of procedures as happens with clustering of care in the clinical setting in an attempt to provide periods of rest for stressed babies, an infant may in fact perceive procedures that are not normally viewed as noxious, as pain. Pain exposure during lifesaving intensive medical care of ELBW neonates may also affect subsequent reactivity to pain in the neonatal period, but behavioral differences are probably not likely to be clinically significant in the long term. Prolonged and repeated untreated pain in the newborn period, however, may produce a relatively permanent shift in basal autonomic arousal related to prior NICU pain experience, which may have long-term sequelae. In the long run, the most significant clinical effects of early pain exposure may be on neurodevelopment, contributing to later attention, learning, and behavior problems in these vulnerable children. Although there is considerable evidence to support a variety of adverse effects of early pain, there is less information about the long-term effects of opiates and benzodiazepines on the developing central nervous system. Current evidence reviewed suggests that judicious use of morphine for adjustment to mechanical ventilation may ameliorate the altered autonomic response. It may be very important, however, to distinguish stress from pain. Animal evidence suggests that the neonatal brain is affected differently when exposed to morphine administered in the absence of pain than in the presence of pain. Pain control may be important for many reasons but overuse of morphine or benzodiazepines may have undesirable long-term effects. This is a rapidly evolving area of knowledge of clear relevance to clinical management likely to affect long-term outcomes of high-risk children.

Perception of health status and quality of life of extremely low-birth weight survivors. The consumer, the provider, and the child

In neonatal intensive care, parents make important clinical management decisions in conjunction with health professionals. Little information is available in the literature, however, on whether the preferences of health care professionals, parents, and children differ for the resulting health outcomes. This article compares the preferences of these stakeholders for four to five hypothetical health states that are common to extremely low-birth weight infants. The findings have conceptual and practical implications for decision making in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Follow-up of very low birthweight babies to adolescence

Reports on the school-age outcomes and behavioural difficulties at adolescence of infants who were very low birthweight (VLBW) are only just emerging. Studies which compare VLBW with same age controls consistently show significantly poorer performance, with average scores between 8 and 13 points lower. Even children with no neurological impairments have scores which are significantly lower on cognitive and achievement measures. The extremely low birthweight (ELBW) adolescents fare worse on all measures and perform particularly poorly in mathematics. A high proportion of VLBW adolescents (15%-20%), and an even higher proportion of ELBW adolescents (30%-50%), are receiving remedial assistance and/or have failed a grade. There are conflicting reports on whether the behavioural problems increase or improve with age, but most studies show that at adolescence the problems are still significantly greater in the VLBW cohort than in their peers. Methodologically rigorous studies of the current survivors to school-age should be conducted to determine whether the technological innovations in the 1990s have contributed to a reduction in psychoeducational and behavioural difficulties. Future research should also be directed towards early identification of school difficulties and development of intervention strategies targeted to the most vulnerable infants.

School difficulties at adolescence in a regional cohort of children who were extremely low birth weight

OBJECTIVES

To compare measures of psychometric assessment and school difficulties in a cohort of extremely low birth weight (ELBW) teenagers and term controls, and to determine whether there is stability in psychometric measures between age 8 and the teen years.

STUDY DESIGN

Longitudinal follow-up; geographically defined region.

PARTICIPANTS

150 of 169 (89%) ELBW survivors born between 1977 and 1982 and 124 of 145 (86%) sociodemographically matched term controls between 12 and 16 years of age. Psychometric measures: Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised, Wide Range Achievement Test-Revised, and a validated parent questionnaire.

RESULTS

Neurosensory impairments were present in 28% of ELBW and 1% of controls. The mean Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised scores were ELBW: 89 +/- 19 and controls: 102 +/- 13. ELBW children did less well on Wide Range Achievement Test-Revised Reading, Spelling, and Arithmetic measures with mean scores in the range from 75 to 85. ELBW children <750 g were more disadvantaged, compared with those >/=750 g. A significantly higher proportion of ELBW children were receiving special educational assistance and/or had repeated a grade (ELBW: 58%; controls: 13%; odds ratio: 9.0). Paired analysis of within-cohort data at age 8 and teen years showed that for both cohorts Arithmetic scores declined, but there were small improvements in other measures, predominantly in the term children.

CONCLUSIONS

Differences of 13 to 18 points in psychometric measures in ELBW teens compared with controls are both statistically significant and clinically relevant. Decreasing birth weight was associated with increased risk on all measures. The high utilization of special educational resources has economic implications, and the incremental cost attributable to being extremely premature needs to be determined.

Visual-motor function of very low birth weight and full-term children at 3 1/2 to 4 years of age

Improvements in perinatal and neonatal management have not only led to a higher survival rate of very low birth weight infants (VLBW; < or = 1,500 g or < 32 weeks gestational age), but also to a better outcome of these children. However the percentage of VLBW children who need special education because of later school problems remains high even in children considered neurologically normal during infancy. We assessed 40 VLBW children and 83 healthy full-term children at age 3 to 4 years by means of a simple and short test for visual-motor deficits. The test included the copying and cutting-out of geometric shapes, the building of models, the recognition of colours and the observation of the concentration and cooperation during the test. All VLBW children had had a good perinatal outcome and had been considered neurologically normal at one year of age. Most VLBW children scored within 1 standard deviation (S.D.) of the test mean, but on average the VLBW children scored significantly lower than the full-term infants in the copying of figures, the cutting-out of geometric forms, the building of models and in the overall concentration and cooperation during the test. Children who attended a nursery school achieved significantly better test results. Girls tended to have better results, but this was not statistically significant. Social factors and age had a significantly greater impact on results than perinatal factors. In summary, VLBW children scored significantly less in almost every test item compared to their term peers. Our test battery could serve as a short introductory test to screen for deficits in visual-motor skills, especially in VLBW children.

Indicated versus spontaneous preterm delivery: An evaluation of neonatal morbidity among infants weighing </=1000 grams at birth

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to determine whether infants weighing </=1000 g after birth who are born to women who undergo indicated preterm delivery have different neonatal outcomes than do those born as a result of either spontaneous preterm labor or preterm premature rupture of membranes.

STUDY DESIGN

In a 1-year observational study (1992-1993) the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network collected outcome data for 799 infants whose birth weights were </=1000 g. Only singleton infants with gestational age >20 weeks who were not produced as the result of an induced abortion were included. Our analysis was further limited to infants without major congenital anomalies who survived >2 days, were deemed potentially viable by the obstetrician, and would have undergone a cesarean delivery for fetal indications (N = 411). The primary reason for delivery was categorized as indicated delivery, spontaneous preterm labor, or spontaneous preterm premature rupture of membranes. Selected neonatal outcomes were evaluated among infants born to women in each of these groups. Logistic regression analyses were used to control for the effects of other potentially confounding variables.

RESULTS

A total of 156 of the 411 infants were born to women who underwent an indicated preterm delivery, whereas 160 were born after spontaneous preterm labor and 95 were delivered after preterm premature rupture of membranes. Univariate analyses revealed significantly lower incidences of grade III or IV intraventricular hemorrhage, grade III or IV retinopathy of prematurity, and seizure activity among infants born in an indicated preterm delivery than among those born after spontaneous preterm labor or preterm premature rupture of membranes. However, infants of women who underwent indicated preterm delivery had a more advanced mean gestational age at birth than did those born after spontaneous preterm labor or preterm premature rupture of membranes (28 +/- 2 weeks, 26 +/- 2 weeks, and 26 +/- 1 weeks, respectively, P <.001). Multiple logistic regression analysis was therefore used to control for the disparity in gestational age. Multivariate analyses did not confirm the apparent improvement in neonatal outcome in the indicated delivery group.

CONCLUSION

In this population of infants weighing </=1000 g, selected neonatal outcomes did not differ according to birth by indicated preterm delivery, spontaneous preterm labor, or preterm premature rupture of membranes.

Epilepsy in very preterm infants: neonatal cranial ultrasound reveals a high-risk subcategory

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between epilepsy and perinatal brain injury in a cohort of 610 infants born preterm at <33 weeks' gestation. The prevalence of epilepsy in this cohort was 4.3% as determined by a postal questionnaire survey. Most children with epilepsy (16 of 24) had high-risk cranial ultrasound lesions including haemorrhagic parenchymal infarction (HPI), posthaemorrhagic hydrocephalus, and cystic periventricular leukomalacia (PVL). Of all the children in our cohort with high-risk brain lesions, those with epilepsy were more likely to have HPI and significantly less likely to have cystic PVL, although it is possible that PVL was not noticed in some cases. Children with epilepsy and high-risk cranial ultrasound lesions also showed more cognitive impairment than children with high-risk lesions but no epilepsy, which suggested more cortical grey-matter damage. We suggest that brain injury has occurred outside the confines of the periventricular white matter in this group of preterm infants with epilepsy.

The vulnerable preschool child: the impact of biomedical and social risks on neurodevelopmental function

The scope of preschool children with biological risk and social disadvantage is large and includes over 1 million (28%) newborns per year. Currently in 1996, 7% of children are born with low birth weight, 1% are born with very low birth weight, 20% have alcohol exposure, and 10% have other drug exposure. Poverty is dynamic and impacts on 25% of children less than 6 years old with increased frequency in children who are minority, have mothers with less than a high school education, or are unmarried. There has been a markedly increased survival in very low birth weight and extremely low birth weight infants in the past 10 years. Outcomes of these neonatal populations reveals that parenchymal brain injury is the major predictor of cerebral palsy which occurs in 7% to 10% of very low birth weight survivors. However, poverty is the major predictor of low IQ. Fetal alcohol syndrome occurs in 1.9 per 1,000 births and is most often associated with mild mental retardation and educational underachievement. Studies investigating cocaine revealed that it is a multifactorial problem overlapping with polysubstance abuse and other risk factors for social disadvantage. The overwhelming number of children do not have cerebral palsy or severe mental retardation. The long-term impact is more subtle and needs more systematic analysis as well as critical evaluation of cognitive impairments and educational under-achievement. Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) cannot be determined by one biological measure. Though multiple disability occurs in 70% of children with Sarnat stage 3 HIE, 30% of survivors are not disabled. Children with mild to moderate HIE have long-term outcomes that are influenced by 9- to 12-month neurodevelopmental status and social disadvantage. By combining strategies to lessen biological risks and enhance developmentally appropriate environments, long-term outcomes of preschool children can be optimized.

Neurodevelopmental consequences associated with the premature neonate

Changes in neonatal care have resulted in an increased survival rate among low birth weight infants. Because their neurologic system is immature, these infants are vulnerable to neurologic injury. Major and minor neurodevelopmental consequences can result. Most preterm infants survive without serious difficulties; however, the lower the birth weight, the higher the likelihood that problems will occur. Numerous factors can increase a preterm infant's risk for disease and impairment, and the neonatal nurse can perform a significant role in minimizing this risk.

Neuropsychological analysis of the visuomotor problems in children born preterm at < or = 32 weeks of gestation: a 5-year prospective follow-up

Forty-six intellectually normal children born preterm (< or =32 weeks of gestation) without major neurological disabilities and a control group of term children matched for age, sex, and parental educational and occupational status were assessed at the age of 5 years using neuropsychological tests emphasizing perceptual and visuomotor functions. The results show that in terms of cognitive functions these preterm children are a very heterogenous group, but many of them still have problems in visuospatial and sensorimotor functions. The preterm children achieved lower mean scores in tests where coordination and voluntary control of hands in combination with tactile, kinaesthetic, and visuospatial perception were needed. They had most difficulty with drawing directions of lines and in integrating two or more forms. They also had problems with 3-dimensional constructions as well as visual perception of rotated shapes or slopes of lines.

Extremely premature (< or = 800 g) schoolchildren: multiple areas of hidden disability

AIM

To examine the functional abilities of extremely low birthweight (ELBW, < or = 800 g) children at school age compared with full term children.

METHODS

ELBW children (n = 115) in a geographically defined regional cohort born between 1974 and mid-1985 (comprising 96% of 120 survivors of 400 ELBW infants admitted to the Provincial Tertiary neonatal intensive care unit), were compared with (n = 50) children of comparable age and sociodemographic status. Each child was categorised by the pattern and degree of disability, using a system derived from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association (DSM IV). Psycho-educational, behavioural, and motor results for ELBW children free of severe/multiple neurosensory disabilities (n = 90; 91% return rate) were compared with the term children.

RESULTS

Severe/multiple neurosensory disabilities were present in 16 ELBW children (14%), and 15 (13%) had borderline intelligence. ELBW children of global IQ > or = 85 scored significantly lower in standardised tests of fine and gross motor control, visuo-motor pencil output, visual memory, and academic achievement (reading, arithmetic, written language). ELBW survivors were three times more likely to have learning disorders (47% vs 18%) and 22 (41%) of the 54 ELBW children with learning disorders had multiple areas of learning difficulty. Of the ELBW group, 30 (26%) were not disabled compared with 41 (82%) of the term group. Only five (12%) of the ELBW boys were not disabled, compared with 25 (35%) of the ELBW girls. Finally, ELBW children had significantly worse scores on ratings of behaviour during testing by the psychologist and behaviour by parental report.

CONCLUSION

The most likely outcome for ELBW survivors at school age is a learning disorder, often multiple, or borderline intellectual functioning, combined with behavioural and motor risk factors rather than severe/multiple disability. Mean scores on psycho-educational testing showed poorer performance of the ELBW children, but grossly understated the complex nature of the individual degree of educational difficulty faced by these children.

Neuropsychological and functional outcomes of very low birth weight infants

Advances in perinatal and neonatal management have resulted in a significant increase in the survival of fragile extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants > 1,000 g at birth. The evaluation and reporting of the outcome of these infants aids in assessing the efficacy of interventions, provides data to aid in policy decisions, and provides critical information for parents and primary care providers. Comprehensive assessment of multiple domains including neurologic/neurosensory, developmental-cognitive, visual perceptual, speech/language, motor, functional skills for daily living, and Kindergarten readiness permit a total view of the child within the context of the family. Survival of VLBW infants < 800 g has steadily improved from 0% (1943 to 1945) to 49% to 70% (1994 to 1995). Rates of cerebral palsy, mental retardation, blindness, and deafness have remained stable in the 1980s and 1990s. There is evidence, however, that the percent of functional limitations may be increasing. A requirement for Special Education Resources among VLBW infants remains high at 44% to 56%. As increasing numbers of infants at the limits of viability survive, the medical community must remain vigilant in its surveillance and advocate both humanistically and scientifically for comprehensive strategies that optimize long-term functional, academic, and family outcomes.

Prospective study of New Zealand very low birthweight infants: outcome at 7-8 years

OBJECTIVE

To determine the survival and sensorineural outcome at 7-8 years in very low birthweight (VLBW) infants born in New Zealand in 1986.

METHODOLOGY

In 1986 all VLBW New Zealand infants admitted to neonatal units were enrolled in a prospective study of acute retinopathy of prematurity. Surviving infants were traced and were assessed at a home visit. Parents were asked a comprehensive questionnaire, and children underwent a visual assessment including photorefraction and were tested with the Revised Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-R).

RESULTS

Four hundred and thirteen VLBW infants were admitted to neonatal units in 1986, 338 (81.8%) surviving to discharge, 12 children died after discharge, 17 were traced to overseas, seven declined to participate and four were untraced, leaving 298 (96% survivors resident in New Zealand) who were assessed at a mean age of 7.6 (+/- 0.4 years, 15 children (5.0%) had severe disability, 14 (4.7%) moderate disability, and 46 (15.4%) mild disability. Blindness (vision worse than 6/60) occurred in eight children (2.7%), deafness requiring aids in four (1.3%), any form of cerebral palsy in 17 (5.7%), and an JQ score on the WISC-R > 1 SD below the mean in 62 (20.8%). There was no significant difference in outcome for children with birthweight < 1000 g and 1000-1499 g.

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term (7-8 year) survival and disability rates in this national cohort of VLBW infants is comparable with that reported from other populations. Although a majority of children have no disability a sizeable proportion do perform poorly on the WISC-R. This may relate in part to problems such as a short attention span and poor visual-motor integration.

School performance of ELBW children: a controlled study

This paper examines the prevalence of learning difficulty in reading, spelling, mathematics and writing and the prevalence of attention deficit disorder (ADD) in extremely low-birthweight (ELBW) children at school compared to their peers. Parents of 87 eligible ELBW children completed an educational questionnaire and questionnaire for ADD. Teachers of the ELBW children completed a detailed educational and ADD questionnaire for the study child and two control children in the same class, matched for age and nearest in birth date to the study child. Parents reported that 4% of the ELBW children born between 1977 and 1986 were in a special education unit, 46% received remedial help and 21% repeated a grade. Teacher assessment of six aspects of reading and spelling and five aspects of mathematics and writing skills indicated that the ELBW children experienced marked problems in all areas compared to control children and were approximately 3 times more likely to be delayed by more than a year in all areas. Prevalence of ADD was not increased in the ELBW children compared to the control group, though males in both groups had a higher prevalence of symptoms. Early intervention and special education resources must be available for ELBW children attending school.

Low birthweight and the risk for mental retardation later in childhood

Data from the population-based Metropolitan Atlanta Developmental Disabilities Study were used in a case-control study to assess the association between low birthweight and mental retardation (intelligence quotient < or = 70) among 10-year-old children who were born in 1975 or 1976. Children with mental retardation were identified from existing records at multiple sources and control children were selected from public school rosters. Data on birthweight and other covariates (sex, birth order, maternal age, maternal race, maternal education and gestational age) came from birth certificates. We used multiple logistic regression modelling to obtain adjusted odds ratios for mental retardation, with normal birthweight children (those weighing > or = 2500 g) as the referent group. For low birthweight children as a whole, the odds ratio for mental retardation was 2.8 (95% CI 1.9-4.2). The risk was higher for very low birthweight (< 1500 g) children than for moderately low birthweight (1500-2499 g) children, and higher for severe mental retardation (intelligence quotient < 50) than for mild mental retardation (intelligence quotient 50-70). Adding gestational age to the models revealed that normal birthweight children who were born preterm also were at increased risk of having mental retardation at age 10 years.

Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales as a summary of functional outcome of extremely low-birthweight children

This study reports moderate to high Pearson correlations between Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale (VABS) subscale and total scores and a variety of cognitive, academic and motor performance tests on a population of extremely low-birthweight infants assessed at eight years of age. The subscales describe adaptive behaviour in daily living, communication, motor function and socialization, as well as an adaptive behaviour composite score. Because it can provide a norm-referenced description of functional outcomes and can be used to assess all children regardless of disability, the authors believe that the VABS should be applied uniformly by all groups reporting school-age outcome of neonatal intensive-care populations.

Extremely low-birth-weight infants less than 901 g: development and behaviour after 4 years of life

In a long-term, prospective, control study, 20 extremely low-birth-weight (ELBW) infants with birth weights between 500 and 900 g (mean 755 (SD 109) g) and gestational ages between 24 and 30 weeks (mean 26.2 (SD 1.8) weeks) were compared with 20 full-term infants at 4 years of age for growth, health, development and quality of life. Four of 20 (20%) ELBW children had major neurological disorders, which were all identified at the 1-year assessment. Seventeen (85%) ELBW children had cognitive development, assessed with the Griffiths mental development scale, within the normal range for age but lower than for full-term controls. The greatest deviations between ELBW and full-term children were found in locomotor and visual-motor integration functions. Eight ELBW children in all (40%), four with recurrent respiratory tract infections after neonatal mechanical ventilation and the four children with major neurological disorders had a higher rate of visits to physicians and hospital admissions. The behavioural symptom interview showed an increased rate of hyperactivity and difficulties in concentrating but not of general behavioural deviations in the ELBW group. Only by school age can all aspects of an extremely early birth be evaluated, but at 4 years of age, 85% of the ELBW children in our group had a good quality of life according to Scheffzek's categorizations.

Subsequent epilepsy in very-low-birthweight infants: a long-term follow-up study from birth

We studied 197 survivors of 290 very-low-birthweight (VLBW, < 1,500 g) infants admitted to our neonatal intensive care unit from 1977 through 1982. The children were all followed until at least age 6 years (mean 10 years 6 months). Eight children (4.1%) had epilepsy: 5 had generalized, 2 had unilateral, and 1 had partial seizures. Two (1.0%) had active and poorly controlled epilepsy. Three had a history of epileptic seizures, but none for > or = 6 years, and 3 were no longer receiving antiepileptic drug (AED) treatment. Most (5 of 8) were severely multiply handicapped. As compared with VLBW children without epileptic seizures and neurodevelopmental abnormalities, VLBW children with epileptic seizures had a gestational age < 27 weeks, a weight < 1,000 g, severe perinatal complications as indicated by an Apgar score of < 4 at 5 min, and the need for long-term oxygen administration.

Comprehensive assessment of the health status of extremely low birth weight children at eight years of age: comparison with a reference group

OBJECTIVE

To apply a multiattribute health status (MAHS) classification system to data available on two cohorts of school-aged children to describe several dimensions of health simultaneously. The MAHS system describes both the type and severity of functional limitations according to seven attributes: sensation, mobility, emotion, cognition, self-care, pain, and fertility (fertility not applicable in this study), with four or five levels of function within each attribute.

DESIGN

The MAHS system was applied retrospectively to clinical and psychometric data collected prospectively at age 8 years. MAHS application was by selection of items from the database and development of computer-assisted algorithms to assign functional levels within each attribute.

SETTING

Geographically defined region in central-west Ontario, Canada.

PARTICIPANTS

One hundred fifty-six extremely low birth weight (ELBW) survivors born between 1977 and 1982 (follow-up rate 90%) and 145 reference children matched for age, sex, and socioeconomic status.

RESULTS

14% of ELBW subjects had no functional limitations, 58% had reduced function for one or two attributes, and 28% had at least three affected. The corresponding figures for the reference group were 50%, 48%, and 2% (p < 0.0001). The limitations were more severe and complex in the ELBW group, and were notably in cognition (58%), sensation (48%), mobility (21%), and self-care (17%), compared with 28%, 11%, 1%, and 0% for reference children (all p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

These data indicate that fewer ELBW than reference children were free of functional limitations and a significantly higher proportion had multiple attributes affected. The MAHS classification approach is a useful instrument to compare the health status of different groups and populations, and to monitor changes with time.

Early outcome determination of low-birth-weight infants using the Neurodevelopmental Risk Examination

A neonatal neurodevelopmental assessment, the Neurodevelopmental Risk Examination (NRE), was developed, through adaptation of the scoring of the Allen/Capute neonatal neurodevelopmental examination, for screening the development of low-birth-weight (LBW) infants in the newborn period. A pilot study was conducted of the NRE and its ability to predict motor and cognitive outcome in LBW infants. The NRE was performed on 92 LBW infants (mean birth weight 1,192 g; mean gestational age 29 weeks) at or near term and included assessments of sensory/behavioral response, axial tone, extremity tone, deep tendon reflexes, and primitive reflexes. Developmental outcome was assessed at a mean age of 13.7 months by neuromotor examination and by the mental scale of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development. The NRE total risk score, reflecting overall neurodevelopmental status, correlated well with motor and cognitive outcomes (r = .50, P = .0001; and r = -.38, P = .0001, respectively). When infants were clustered into risk groups based upon NRE score (69 infants were deemed low-risk, 20 moderate-risk, and three high-risk), a strong relationship to outcome was maintained (motor outcome: chi 2 = 43.6, P < .0001; cognitive outcome: analysis of variance (ANOVA) F = 6.78, df(2.89), P = .002). All subcategories of the examination, except primitive reflexes, were associated with outcome. Therefore, by using a simple method of scoring and interpretation, the NRE can validly predict motor and cognitive outcome in LBW infants.

Extremely low birthweight infants at 3 years: a developmental profile

This study documents the neurodevelopmental outcome at 3 years of 52 of 55 extremely low birthweight (ELBW) survivors (survival rate 49%) born in a tertiary maternity centre from July 1985 through December 1988, and examines more closely the developmental profile of the neurologically normal survivors. At 3 years, 6 (12%) children had severe neurodevelopmental impairment (severe cerebral palsy, blindness, deafness or a General Quotient (GQ) < 70 on the Griffiths Scales), 11 (21%) had mild to moderate impairment and 35 (67%) had no neurosensory impairment and normal development (GQ > or = 85). Significant risk factors for severe impairment were stage 3 or 4 retinopathy of prematurity (odds ratio [OR] 21.5), treatment with postnatal steroids (OR 21), grade III or IV intraventricular haemorrhage (OR 11) and supplemental oxygen at 'term' (OR 6.4). The developmental profile of the 35 neurologically normal children revealed a significant weakness in eye and hand coordination skills and a relative strength in hearing and speech skills. Early recognition of this developmental profile may allow implementation of more appropriate preschool programmes for ELBW children.

Functional status of extremely preterm infants at kindergarten entry

Functional status was formally assessed in 149 of 153 surviving members of an extremely preterm (< or = 28 weeks) birth cohort born at one tertiary center between 1983 and 1986. The children were observed in the completion of motor, speech and self-care tasks, and administered either the Vineland Daily Living Skills Scale (VDLS) or the Functional Independence Measure for children (WeeFIM). 31 children had major neurodevelopmental impairment. Only 5 per cent were considered to have severe functional limitation. The prevalence of functional limitation varied by definition: 11 children were limited using the WeeFIM instrument and 35 using the VDLS instrument. These findings suggest that the majority of extremely preterm children are functional at kindergarten entry, but will require continuous monitoring of academic skills.

Outcome at 8 years for children with birth weights of 1250 g or less

The educational, motor, and behavioural performance of a hospital based cohort of 51 children aged 8 years with birth weights of 1250 g or less is reported, as part of a longitudinal study. Compared with age, race and sex matched classmates, who were examined at school at the same visit, the very low birthweight (VLBW) group performed less well on the basic mathematics test A, the Schonell spelling test, and the test of motor impairment. Reading performance was also poorer in this group. Twenty three (45%) VLBW children were having difficulty with one or more school subjects compared with 11 (19%) controls, and 15 (26%) had difficulties in two or more areas, compared with three (5%) controls. Parents of VLBW children reported a similar frequency of behavioural problems to controls but teachers identified characteristics typical of emotional disorders and overactivity more frequently among the VLBW group. Motor testing at 6 years of age was the best predictor of school problems at 8 years, correctly identifying 15/16 children with multiple problems with a low (33%) positive predictive value but a high (98%) negative predictive value. Children with birth weights of 1250 g or less and no major impairment have a high frequency of learning difficulties that become more apparent with advancing age. Such problems may be predicted at an earlier age by detailed motor testing.

The relationship between psychosocial factors and developmental outcome for very low and extremely low birthweight infants: a review

Over the last quarter century, the improved survival rate of very low birthweight infants has sharpened questions about their residual disabilities. Longitudinal studies have devoted attention to the cognitive and neurodevelopmental outcome of these infants, but much less is known about their long-term social and emotional development. Psychiatrists consulting to neonatal intensive care units and assessing these infants in their families, will be assisted by a better understanding of the developmental and psychological outcomes of such infants. This paper reviews the state of knowledge in both of these areas. It argues the paramount importance of psychosocial factors to the infants' developmental outcome, and the importance of longitudinal research in further clarifying the predictive value of these factors. In a subsequent paper, we consider the efficacy of interventions with this group.

Improving health status in extremely low birthweight children between two and five years

The 5-year outcome of 101 extremely low birthweight (ELBW, < 1000 g) children discharged from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit was reported. Over this period, there were four post-discharge deaths. The neurodevelopmental impairment rate was 18% overall: cerebral palsy 7%, blindness 3%, deafness 3% and developmental delay 10%. Seventy-one percent of children were readmitted to hospital. The mean number of admissions was 2.4 per child and the mean duration of total hospital stay was 11.3 days per child in the 5-year period. A trend was observed in a reduction in the readmission rate and hospital days in the 2-5-year period compared to the period between discharge and 2 years, though the differences were not statistically significant. The most common reason for readmission was for surgical procedures, primarily aural ventilation tube insertion and tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. Significant health problems included recurrent wheezing episodes, stridor and croup in the period up to 2 years and otitis media and tonsillitis between 2 and 5 years. There was some catch-up growth, especially in height, between 2 and 5 years. Children with < 800 g birthweight had similar rates of neurodevelopmental impairment and hospital readmission to those of 800-999 g birthweight. However, they experienced more otitis media and pneumonia, had more ear, nose and throat operations, and at 5 years of age, more were below the 3rd centile for weight. This study showed that the health status of ELBW children had improved between 2 and 5 years, but they continued to experience recurrent health problems and hospital readmissions which would have resulted in added financial and emotional burdens to their families.