Early detection of minor neurodevelopmental dysfunctions at age 6 months in prematurely born neonates.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the 6-month neurodevelopmental outcomes of prematurely born neonates and find the determining neonatal factors of minor neurological dysfunctions (MNDs).


METHODS
We examined data collected prospectively on 151 infants born before 37th week of gestation in 2009-2010 who were assessed at 6 months corrected age with the Bayley Scales of Infant Development-2nd Edition (BSID-II) and the Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST).


RESULTS
Of 151 neonates born before 37 weeks, 20 (13.2%) had MNDs at 6 months corrected age. These proportions were 21.6%, 13.2%, and 8.2% for neonates born before 28 weeks, 29 weeks to 32 weeks, and 33 weeks to 36 weeks, respectively. Half of neonates with MNDs have a birth body weight of less than 1000g. BSID-II and DDST are highly correlated in assessing the MNDs of premature neonates at 6 months corrected age. MND was independently associated with postnatal corticosteroid use (odds ratio [OR], 11.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.9-66.0, P=0.008) and cholestasis (OR, 6.2; 95% CI, 1.16-33.1, P=0.033).


CONCLUSIONS
Premature neonates, even those born at 33 to 36 weeks, are found to have MNDs as early as 6 months corrected age by BSID-II and DDST, with risk increasing as gestation decreases.
Division of Pediatric Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Jen-Fu
JF
Hsu
Ming-Horng
MH
Tsai
Shih-Ming
SM
Chu
Ren-Huei
RH
Fu
Ming-Chou
MC
Chiang
Fan-Ming
FM
Hwang
Miao-Ju
MJ
Kuan
Yu-Shu
YS
Huang
D002657:Child Development; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D011596:Psychomotor Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012307:Risk Factors