title: Growth, neurological and cognitive development in infants with a birthweight <501 g at age 5 years.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine growth, neurological and cognitive development at 5 years of preterm infants with birthweights <501 g born in three German tertiary perinatal centres between 1998 and 2001.
  
  
  METHODS
  Structured neurological examination, the Gross Motor Function Classification Scale and the Kaufman-Assessment-Battery Test for Children.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 107 infants, 48 received immediate life support (gestational age 25.2 weeks [21-30.7]; birth weight 435 g [290-500]) median [range]), 27 (56%) survived until follow-up [95% CI 39-69%], 19 (70%) could be tested. In few infants had catch-up growth taken place. Neurological test results were normal in five infants (26%) and mildly abnormal/severely abnormal in 11 (58%)/3 (16%) infants. Visual impairment was present in eight (42%), and hearing disability in three (16%). The mean mental processing composite (IQ) was 82 [50-104] (median [range]).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Of all resuscitated infants with a birthweight <501 g, 56% survived to school age. Of these, composite outcome score showed normal development or mild disability in one-half, and moderate or severe disability in the other half of them. Investigators should include such infants in studies and their reports should give specific information about them.
authors.affiliation: Neonatology, Perinatal Centre Grosshadern, University of Munich, Munich, Germany. esther.riegerfackeldey@ukmuenster.de
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rieger-Fackeldey
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Blank
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dinger
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Steinmacher
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bode
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schulze
mesh_terms: D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003638:Deafness / Q000453:epidemiology; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D052577:Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000453:epidemiology; D008020:Life Support Care; D008297:Male; D009017:Morbidity; D009026:Mortality; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology