Ataxia Rating Scales Reveal Increased Scores in Very Preterm Born 5-6-Year-Old Preschool Children and Young Adults

The aim of this study is to investigate whether scores in ataxia rating scales (ARS) are different in very preterm (VP) preschool and adult participants compared to term controls. This is a case-control study. Sixty VP children (years: 5.5-6.5; gestational age: 23.9-31.7 weeks) and 56 VP adults (years: 17.8-27.9; gestational age: 23.3-32.0 weeks) without major cerebral lesions participated in the study; 60-age and sex-matched term children and 64 term adults for comparison were used in the study intervened with the assessment with International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS) and Scale for Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA). Main outcome measures are primary outcome: total icars and sara scores in preterm (vp) participants versus controls. Results showed that VP children showed significantly higher total ICARS (M 15.98, SD 6.29, range 4.0-32.0; p < .001) and SARA scores (M 6.5, SD 2.53, range 1.0-15.0; p < .001) than controls (ICARS: M 9.17, SD 3.88, range 2.0-20.0; SARA: M 3.51, SD 1.54, range 1.0-8.0). VP adults also showed significantly higher total ICARS (M 1.0, SD 1.99, range 0.0-11.0; p < .001) and SARA scores (M 0.54, SD 1.08, range 0.0-6.0; p < .001) than controls (ICARS: M 0.11, SD 0.44, range 0.0-2.0; SARA: M 0.04, SD 0.18, range 0.0-1.0). In conclusion, VP children showed significantly higher scores in ARS than controls. These differences were also present in VP adults, suggesting that deficits likely prevail until adulthood. ARS are a time and cost-effective method to screen for difficulties in coordination and balance in a patient group at risk.