Growth and early developmental outcome of the very low birth weight infants at Alexandra Hospital, Singapore 1978-1982.
210 infants weighting 501-1500 gm at birth were cared for in Alexandra Hospital from 1978 to 1982. Their overall survival rate was 54%. Only 8 out of 56 (14%) of those weighing 501 to 1000 gm survived as our facilities were inadequate for their care. 106 out of 154 (69%) of those weighing 1001-1500 gm survived. 96 out of 114 VLBW survivors (84%) had follow-up from 1 to 5 years. Birth weight was regained by 25 +/- 10 days. The average measurements at term were all below the 3rd percentile. Thereafter, both sexes showed accelerated rates of weight gain and generally achieved 10th to 25th percentile in weight by 2 years. Head growth seemed to be faster, by 2 years, the majority had achieved the 25th to 50th percentile in head circumference. Developmental assessment was carried out using Gesell's method, with age corrected for prematurity. The 8 survivors in the 501-1000 gm group were small-for-dates for obstetric reasons. Their perinatal course was uneventful and they were healthy on follow up (14%). For the 106 survivors in the 1001-1500 gm, 6 had significant handicap (6%), 18 lost to follow up (17%), and 82 were healthy (77%), the majority showing satisfactory catch-up development by 2 years. The chance of survival for VLBW infants has continued to increase over the years with a relatively low handicap rate.
D001034:Apgar Score; D001724:Birth Weight; D001835:Body Weight; D002657:Child Development; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006128:Growth; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D012846:Singapore; D013997:Time Factors