[Difficulties with the follow-up of a cohort of very preterm infants: The EPIPAGE Paris-Petite-Couronne population].
OBJECTIVE
To describe the characteristics of the children of parents who did not respond to a follow-up questionnaire in a cohort of very preterm infants (EPIPAGE study) and to explore the reasons why they did not complete the questionnaires.


METHODS
The non-respondents (N = 176) were the parents who did not return the questionnaires at 1 and 2 years. Contacts were organised by telephone calls and at home visits.


RESULTS
The families of the non-respondents presented more socioeconomic difficulties and their children were born more preterm than those followed up without difficulties. The efforts made to contact the non-respondents revealed that their families were often confronted with major adverse socioeconomic difficulties, had severe illnesses and psychological troubles. Half of the children of the non-respondents were finally examined at the 5-year assessment. They showed lower performances at the cognitive development test and a poorer health status than the children of the respondents.


CONCLUSIONS
When the follow-up does not include the initial population in its totality, the socioeconomic difficulties are underestimated and probably also the rate of sequelae associated with very preterm delivery.
Du Mazaubrun
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Inserm U149, UMR S, IFR69 recherches épidémiologiques en santé périnatale et santé des femmes, 16, avenue Paul-Vaillant-Couturier, 94807 Villejuif cedex, France.
Garel
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Ancel
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Supernant
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Blondel
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D002675:Child, Preschool; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D010290:Parents; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires