Outcome at 2 years of infants less than 1000 grams: a regional study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the neurodevelopmental outcome of infants with birthweight < 1000 g at 2 years.


METHODS
Prospective, regional case-control cohort.


RESULTS
Of 141 liveborn infants with birthweight between 500-999 g born to mothers of central North Island domicile, 83 (58.9%) were alive at 2 years. Sixty nine of the survivors completed a neurodevelopmental assessment at a corrected age of 2 years along with 29 control infants. Neurological disability was present in 27.5% of survivors, and 20.7% of controls, with severe disability being more prevalent amongst survivors (10.1% vs 3.4%). The mean developmental index, expressive and receptive language scores were not significantly different between the groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Infants with birthweight < 1000 g are at increased risk of major neurodevelopmental disability at age 2 years compared with a control cohort.
Bourchier
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Newborn Intensive Care, Waikato Hospital, Hamilton.
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*