Neurodevelopmental outcome at 2 years in 23 to 26 weeks old gestation infants.
BACKGROUND
Assessment of neurologic and developmental outcome at 2 years age of infants with gestational age (GA)<27 weeks, born between 1996-2001.


METHODS
A total of 110 live-born preterm infants with GA<27 weeks.


METHODS
Main outcome criterions: Neurologic examination (according to Touwen) and classification of cerebral palsy by using the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) at the corrected age of 1 and 2 years; assessment of mental and psychomotor development by using the Griffith Mental Development scales at the corrected age of 2 years; growth assessment at birth, 1 and 2 years.


RESULTS
Mortality was 52%. Regular follow up was performed in 48 (91%) of the 53 surviving infants. Neurologic outcome: at 1 year age: 2% nonambulant cerebral palsy, 25% mild neurologic signs and 73% normal; at 2 years age: 4% nonambulant cerebral palsy, 2% ambulant cerebral palsy, 4% mild neurologic signs and 90% normal neurology. Developmental outcome at 2 years age: 40% DQ>-1 SD, 6% DQ between -1 SD and -2 SD (mild delay), 35% DQ between -2 SD and -3 SD (moderate delay) and 19% DQ<-3 SD (severe delay). Overall disability was found in 64%, severe disability in 27% of the infants. Profound growth failure in weight and head circumference<3rd centile at 2 years age was recorded in 39 and 19% of the infants, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Developmental delay is very common in preterm infants<27 GA and exceeds the number of neurological disabilities (including cerebral palsy).
Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital, Graz, Austria.
C
C
Sommer
B
B
Urlesberger
U
U
Maurer-Fellbaum
J
J
Kutschera
W
W
Müller
D001835:Body Weight; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality; D002508:Cephalometry; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality; D019988:Children with Disabilities / Q000145:classification; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D052577:Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D015996:Survival Rate