Improvement of developmental outcome between 24 and 36 months corrected age in very preterm infants.
OBJECTIVE
To study early developmental course in preschool-aged very preterm infants and its association with perinatal risk factors and test-taking behaviour.


METHODS
Children born <30 weeks gestation and/or <1000g in the Academic Medical Center of Amsterdam were assessed at 24 and 36 months corrected age with the Dutch Bayley Scales of Infant Development-II (BSID-II-NL) and neurological examination. Linear regression analyses for developmental change were performed with perinatal risk factors.


RESULTS
One hundred and forty-six children, mean GA 28 weeks and mean birth weight 1043 g, participated. Mental and psychomotor scores improved significantly with 6 and 7 points, respectively, from 24 to 36 months (p < 0.01). Mild to severe problems on at least one domain occurred less often at 36 (32%) compared to 24 months (63%) (p < 0.01), using corrected scores. Mental improvement was associated with being born very small for gestational age or <28 weeks; psychomotor improvement was associated with not being treated with indomethacin. Difficult test behaviour occurred mostly at 24 months and was associated with non-optimal development at 36 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Improved developmental outcome and test behaviour were found at 36 compared to 24 months in a cohort of very preterm children. Long-term outcome studies and retesting of behaviourally difficult children are recommended.
Houtzager
Bregje A
BA
Emma Children's Hospital of the Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands. b.a.houtzager@amc.uva.nl
Gorter-Overdiek
Bianca
B
Van Sonderen
Loekie
L
Tamminga
Pieter
P
Van Wassenaer
Aleid G
AG
D000367:Age Factors; D002652:Child Behavior; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D052577:Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight / Q000254:growth & development*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000254:growth & development*; D008297:Male; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D012307:Risk Factors; D058013:Test Taking Skills / Q000523:psychology