Neurological development up to the age of four years of extremely low birthweight infants born in Southern Finland in 1991-94.
A total of 142 infants with birthweights of less than 1000 g were examined at the age of 4 y by a child neurologist, by a neuropsychologist and by an occupational therapist in order to establish the rate of neurological disorders. A total of 57 (40%) of the children had normal neurological development, 52 (37%) had minor neurological disorders, 27 (19%) were diagnosed with cerebral palsy, and 6 (4%) were mentally retarded (IQ <71) with no motor disability. The rate of cerebral palsy was identical with the figure at age 2 y, but the rate of minor neurological disorders increased from 25% to 37%. Compared with international rates, we found a higher rate of cerebral palsy, but the incidence of minor neurological disorders corresponded with figures published previously.
Salokorpi
T
T
Pediatric Neurology, The Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland. teija.salokorpi@cch.fimnet.fi
Rautio
T
T
Sajaniemi
N
N
Serenius-Sirve
S
S
Tuomi
H
H
von Wendt
L
L
D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D019957:Motor Skills Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index