title: Neurodevelopmental outcome among multiples and singletons: a regional neonatal intensive care unit's experience in Turkey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare the neurodevelopmental outcome at 12-18 months' corrected age between multiples and singleton preterm infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  We designed a prospective study of preterm infants (≤32 weeks gestation) born and hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit between November 2008 and November 2009, whose assessments were performed at 12-18 months' corrected age. Neurodevelopmental impairment was defined as the presence of any one of the following: moderate or severe cerebral palsy, severe bilateral hearing loss or bilateral blindness, mental developmental index score, or psychomotor developmental index score less than 70. Results were compared for both multiples and singleton infants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and fifty-nine multiples and 211 singleton infants were assessed at 12-18 months' corrected age. The neurodevelopmental outcome including all parameters at 12-18 months' corrected age in multiples was not significantly different from singleton preterm infants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Multiple gestation in preterm infants is not associated with an increased risk of neurodevelopmental impairment at 12-18 months' corrected age compared with singleton preterm infants. For further information, long term and high participation in neurodevelopmental follow-up and evaluation at pre-school age will be needed.
authors: Department of Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics, Zekai Tahir Burak Maternity Teaching and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. zeyneperas@yahoo.com
authors: Zeynep
authors: Z
authors: Eras
authors: Banu Mutlu
authors: BM
authors: Ozyurt
authors: Gozde
authors: G
authors: Kanmaz
authors: Omer
authors: O
authors: Erdeve
authors: Evrim Durgut
authors: ED
authors: Sakrucu
authors: Serife Suna
authors: SS
authors: Oguz
authors: Fuat Emre
authors: FE
authors: Canpolat
authors: Nurdan
authors: N
authors: Uras
authors: Ugur
authors: U
authors: Dilmen
mesh_terms: D002657:Child Development; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004200:Diseases in Twins / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008297:Male; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014427:Twins / Q000235:genetics