title: Risk factors for cerebral palsy in premature infants identified during the pre and perinatal periods: a case-control study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this paper was to assess the pre and perinatal risk factors for cerebral palsy in premature infants, comparing them with full-term infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective cross-sectional cohort study on 48 infants between four and eight months of life, of whom 20 were born prematurely (<37 weeks of gestational age) and 28 at full term (37 to 42 weeks). A questionnaire was used, which investigated maternal reproductive, obstetric and neonatal factors, along with an evaluation scale for neurosensory-motor development of infants at risk of neuromotor alterations. For the statistical analysis, the Student's t, chi-square, Fisher's exact and Cramer's V tests were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the newborns that were small for their gestational age (35%) were in the premature group (P=0.001). Hyperbilirubinemia (P=0.000), anemia (P=0.009), respiratory distress syndrome (P=0.000) and periventricular hemorrhage (P=0.025) were more frequent in the premature newborn group. Phototherapy and blood transfusion were more frequent among the premature infants: 70.0% vs. 25.0% (P=0.002) and 20.0% vs. 0.0% (P=0.025), respectively. Among the premature infants, 50.0% presented neuromotor development alterations, against only 14.3% of the full-term infants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prematurity is an important risk factor for the development of neurosensory-motor alterations that are suggestive of cerebral palsy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health State, University of Ceará (UECE), Fortaleza‑CE, Brazil - araujojred@terra.com.br.
authors.forename: Emilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Araujo Júnior
authors.forename: Liliam C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Rolo
authors.forename: Fabricio Da Silva
authors.initials: Fda S
authors.lastname: Costa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult