Seven-month developmental outcomes of very low birth weight infants enrolled in a randomized controlled trial of delayed versus immediate cord clamping.
OBJECTIVE
The results from our previous trial revealed that infants with delayed cord clamping (DCC) had significantly lesser intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and late-onset sepsis (LOS) than infants with immediate cord clamping (ICC). A priori, we hypothesized that infants with DCC would have better motor function by 7 months corrected age.


METHODS
Infants between 24 and 31 weeks were randomized to ICC or DCC and follow-up evaluation was completed at 7 months corrected age.


RESULTS
We found no differences in the Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID) scores between the DCC and ICC groups. However, a regression model of effects of DCC on motor scores controlling for gestational age, IVH, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, sepsis and male gender suggested higher motor scores of male infants with DCC.


CONCLUSIONS
DCC at birth seems to be protective of very low birth weight male infants against motor disability at 7 months corrected age.
College of Nursing, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA. jmercer@uri.edu
J S
JS
Mercer
B R
BR
Vohr
D A
DA
Erickson-Owens
J F
JF
Padbury
W
W
Oh
D002657:Child Development; D003250:Constriction; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D008297:Male; D018743:Perinatal Care; D012737:Sex Factors; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000601:surgery*