A longitudinal ICF-CY-based evaluation of functioning and disability of children born with very low birth weight

Development of a new scoring method in the neurofunctional assessment of preterm infants

Infants born preterm are at high risk of presenting neurodevelopmental delay. The Neurofunctional Assessment (NFA) describes infants' neurodevelopment through the evaluation of six different domains. This study aimed to evaluate how, in a cohort of preterm infants, each NFA domain assessed at 3 months of corrected age (CA) was associated with neurodevelopment at 2 years of CA using the Griffiths Mental Developmental Scales Extended Revised (GMDS-ER). In addition, by introducing the NFA complexity score (CS), the study aimed to define a threshold that can help clinicians discriminate infants at higher risk of later neurodevelopmental delay. We conducted an observational, longitudinal study including 211 preterm infants. At 3 months of CA, infants who had normal scores in each domain showed a significantly higher GMDS-ER global quotient (GQ) at 2 years of CA. In addition, linear model results showed a significant negative relationship between the NFA CS and 2-year GMDS-ER GQ (estimate: - 0.27; 95% CI - 0.35, - 0.20; p value < 0.001). Each 10-point increase in the NFA CS was associated with an average 2.7-point decrease in the GMDS GQ. These results highlight how the NFA domains and NFA CS are compelling instruments for the early identification of children at risk for long-term adverse outcomes.

Neuroprem 2: An Italian Study of Neurodevelopmental Outcomes of Very Low Birth Weight Infants

Background: Despite the increased survival of preterm newborns worldwide, the risk of neurodevelopmental disabilities remains high. Analyzing the outcomes of the preterm population can identify risk factors and enable specific early interventions. Aims: Neuroprem is a prospective cohort study of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants that aims to evaluate the neurodevelopmental outcomes and risk factors for severe functional disability at 2 years of corrected age. Methods: Nine Italian neonatal intensive care units participated in the network. The Griffiths Mental Developmental Scales (GMDS-R) or the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (BSDI III) and a neuro-functional evaluation (according to the International Classification of Disability and Health and Neuro-Functional Assessment, or NFA ICF-CY) were administered to VLBW infants at 24 months of corrected age. The primary outcome measure was severe functional disability, defined as cerebral palsy, bilateral blindness, deafness, an NFA ICF-CY of >2, a BSDI III cognitive composite score of <2 SD, or a GMDS-R global quotient score of <2 SD. Perinatal risk factors for severe functional disability were assessed through multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: Among 502 VLBW survivors who completed the 24-month follow-up, 48 (9.6%) presented severe functional disability, of whom 27 had cerebral palsy (5.4%). Rates of severe functional disability and cerebral palsy were higher in neonates with a lower gestational age (p < 0.001). Overall, 147 infants (29.3%) were referred to neuromotor intervention. In the multivariate regression model, gestational age at birth OR 0.79; 95% CI 0.67-0.90; p = 0.001) and periventricular-intraventricular hemorrhage (OR 2.51; 95% CI 1.19-5.26; p = 0.015) were significantly associated with severe functional disability. Conclusion: Neuroprem 2 provides updated information on the neurodevelopmental outcomes of VLBW infants in a large Italian cohort. The overall rate of neurodevelopmental disabilities was quite lower than reported in the previous literature. These data indicate the need for structured follow-up programs from a national neonatal network perspective.

Neuroprem: the Neuro-developmental outcome of very low birth weight infants in an Italian region

INTRODUCTION

The survival of preterm babies has increased worldwide, but the risk of neuro-developmental disabilities remains high, which is of concern to both the public and professionals. The early identification of children at risk of neuro-developmental disabilities may increase access to intervention, potentially influencing the outcome.

AIMS

Neuroprem is an area-based prospective cohort study on the neuro-developmental outcome of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants that aims to define severe functional disability at 2 years of age.

METHODS

Surviving VLBW infants from an Italian network of 7 neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) were assessed for 24 months through the Griffiths Mental Developmental Scales (GMDS-R) or the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (BSDI III) and neuro-functional evaluation according to the International Classification of Disability and Health (ICF-CY). The primary outcome measure was severe functional disability at 2 years of age, defined as cerebral palsy, a BSDI III cognitive composite score < 2 standard deviation (SD) or a GMDS-R global quotients score < 2 SD, bilateral blindness or deafness.

RESULTS

Among 211 surviving VLBW infants, 153 completed follow-up at 24 months (72.5%). Thirteen patients (8.5%) developed a severe functional disability, of whom 7 presented with cerebral palsy (overall rate of 4.5%). Patients with cerebral palsy were all classified with ICF-CY scores of 3 or 4. BSDI III composite scores and GMDS-R subscales were significantly correlated with ICF-CY scores (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Neuroprem represents an Italian network of NICUs aiming to work together to ensure preterm neuro-developmental assessment. This study updates information on VLBW outcomes in an Italian region, showing a rate of cerebral palsy and major developmental disabilities in line with or even lower than those of similar international studies. Therefore, Neuroprem provides encouraging data on VLBW neurological outcomes and supports the implementation of a preterm follow-up programme from a national network perspective.

Developing operational items for the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health Rehabilitation Set: the experience from China

The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) Rehabilitation Set is proposed as a tool to measure functioning among a clinical population in Chinese rehabilitation services. It needs to be applied in a transparent and reliable way and considered from a measurement perspective. The aim of this study was to develop items operationalizing the ICF Rehabilitation Set to enhance the standardized and unified assessment in varied clinical settings. A list of proposed operational items was generated by (i) linking the items of four standard assessment instruments; (ii) literature review; and (iii) self-development. The candidate operational items were then evaluated by Chinese experts in rehabilitation medicine. One hundred and sixty-six operational items were generated using the three approaches and 54 were evaluated in the formal expert survey. Finally, 30 experts validated nine items from the assessment instruments, two found in the literature and 19 self-developed items for operationalizing the ICF Rehabilitation Set. The 30 operational items validated could potentially facilitate the implementation of the ICF Rehabilitation Set in clinical settings and provide a reference point for future research.

Self-reported upper limb functioning of pupils with cerebral palsy by the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health

International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health: Children and Youth Version has shown an increasing role in the assessment of children with cerebral palsy (CP), but just a few researchers use it for individuals' self-assessment. In this study, we present the self-assessment of functioning of students with CP and changes by the end of a school year. Thirty-seven pupils with spastic CP involving upper limbs, 24 pupils with typical development, and 20 pupils with speech and language disorders were studied by International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health core sets for CP. The CP group reported limitations in sensory functions (P<0.05), movement-related functions (P<0.001), and mobility (P<0.001) as well as products and technology and support and relationships as supportive (P<0.05). Correlation between expert and self-evaluation was weak to moderate. The CP core set may appropriately serve in the self-assessment of pupils' functioning in longitudinal studies.