Prediction of 12-month neurodevelopmental outcome from a 6-month neurologic examination in premature infants.
This study examined whether a neurologic examination at 6 months of age is predictive of neurodevelopmental outcome at 12 months in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants. A neurologic examination and the Bayley Scales of Infant Development were performed at 6 and 12 months with VLBW infants and full-term (FT) controls. VLBW infants were categorized based on early medical complications. High-risk (HR) infants had diagnoses of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, pulmonary immaturity, grade III or IV intraventricular hemorrhage, and/or periventricular leukomalacia. VLBW infants with other diagnoses were placed in the low-risk (LR) group. Total neurologic scores (NS) improved over time for all three groups but improved more for HR infants, who had more abnormal NS at both time points; NS at 6 months predicted neurologic and developmental scores at 12 months for all three groups, but the relation between 6- and 12-month outcomes was strongest for the HR infants. The neurologic examination may be helpful in assessing VLBW infants' need for referral to early childhood intervention programs.
Wildin
S R
SR
Department of Pediatrics, Child Development, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77555-0319, USA.
Anderson
A
A
Woodside
M
M
Swank
P
P
Smith
K
K
Denson
S
S
Landry
S
S
D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development*; D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000503:physiopathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000503:physiopathology; D002657:Child Development; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight / Q000254:growth & development*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000254:growth & development*; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D007969:Leukomalacia, Periventricular / Q000503:physiopathology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008168:Lung / Q000254:growth & development; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors