title: Trajectories of general movements from birth to term-equivalent age in infants born <30 weeks' gestation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  General movements (GMs) is an assessment with good predictive validity for neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm infants. However, there is limited information describing the early GMs of very preterm infants, particularly prior to term.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the early GMs trajectory of very preterm infants (born <30weeks' gestation) from birth to term-equivalent age, and to assess the influence of known perinatal risk factors on GMs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  149 very preterm infants born <30weeks' gestation.
  
  
  METHODS
  GMs were recorded weekly from birth until 32weeks' postmenstrual age, and then fortnightly until 38weeks' postmenstrual age. GMs were also assessed at term-equivalent age. Detailed perinatal data were collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 669 GMs assessed, 551 were preterm and 118 were at term-equivalent age. Prior to term, 15% (n=82) of GMs were normal and 85% (n=469) were abnormal, with the proportion of abnormal GMs decreasing with increasing postmenstrual age (p for trend <0.001). By term-equivalent 30% (n=35) of GMs were normal. On univariable analysis, lower gestational age (p<0.001), postnatal infection (p<0.001) and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (p=0.001) were associated with abnormal GMs. Postnatal infection was the only independent perinatal association with abnormal GMs on multivariable analysis. All four infants with grade III/IV intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) had persistently abnormal GMs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GMs were predominantly abnormal in very preterm infants, with a higher proportion of normal GMs at term-equivalent age than prior to term. Abnormal GMs were associated with postnatal infection and IVH.
authors.affiliation: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, 50 Flemington Road, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; University of Melbourne, Grattan Street, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia; The Royal Women's Hospital, Cnr Grattan Street and Flemington Road, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia. Electronic address: joy.olsen@mcri.edu.au.
authors.forename: Joy E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.affiliation: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, 50 Flemington Road, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia.
authors.forename: Nisha C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, 50 Flemington Road, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia.
authors.forename: Abbey L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Eeles
authors.affiliation: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, 50 Flemington Road, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; University of Melbourne, Grattan Street, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Katherine J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, 50 Flemington Road, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; University of Melbourne, Grattan Street, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.affiliation: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, 50 Flemington Road, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; University of Melbourne, Grattan Street, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia; The Royal Women's Hospital, Cnr Grattan Street and Flemington Road, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia.
authors.forename: Jeanie L Y
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Cheong
authors.affiliation: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, 50 Flemington Road, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; University of Melbourne, Grattan Street, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia; The Royal Women's Hospital, Cnr Grattan Street and Flemington Road, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia.
authors.forename: Lex W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Doyle
authors.affiliation: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, 50 Flemington Road, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; University of Melbourne, Grattan Street, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia; The Royal Women's Hospital, Cnr Grattan Street and Flemington Road, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia.
authors.forename: Alicia J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Spittle
mesh_terms: D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D020300:Intracranial Hemorrhages / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies
keywords: General movements; Perinatal variables; Postmenstrual age; Term-equivalent age; Very preterm infants