title: Morbidity in early adulthood among low-risk very low birth weight children in Turkey: a preliminary study.
abstract: The objective of this study was to assess low-risk very low birth weight (VLBW) children, before the era of modern neonatal intensive care in Turkey, during adolescence. Forty-one VLBW adolescents were compared with 40 adolescents who had normal birth weight. The physical and neuromotor development, educational achievement and psychosocial status were assessed at a mean age of 17 +/- 1.6 years. VLBW adolescents were shorter than normal birth weight adolescents (p = 0.01). A major neurological abnormality (cerebral palsy) was seen in 12% and a minor neurological abnormality (tremor, coordination, behavioral and speech disorders) in 17%. VLBW adolescents had higher rates of visual problems (56% vs. 5%). School failure was present in 27%. There were no differences in behavioral problems or quality of life between the two groups, but VLBW adolescents did have a lower self-esteem score. Neurodevelopment and growth sequelae were a significant problem in VLBW adolescents. As early intervention might help to prevent or ameliorate potential problems, long-term follow-up is essential.
authors: Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine.
authors: Gülay
authors: G
authors: Can
authors: Leyla
authors: L
authors: Bilgin
authors: Burak
authors: B
authors: Tatli
authors: Reyhan
authors: R
authors: Saydam
authors: Asuman
authors: A
authors: Coban
authors: Zeynep
authors: Z
authors: Ince
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009017:Morbidity / Q000639:trends; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult