title: Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) Performance of Greek Preterm Infants: Comparisons With Full-Term Infants of the Same Nationality and Impact of Prematurity-Related Morbidity Factors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Only a few studies have been conducted with the objective of creating norms of the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) for the assessment of gross motor development of preterm infants. The AIMS performance of preterm infants has been compared with that of the Canadian norms of full-term infants, but not with that of full-term infants of the same nationality. Moreover, the possible impact of prematurity-related morbidity factors on AIMS performance is unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this study were: (1) to evaluate AIMS trajectory in a large population of Greek preterm infants and create norms, (2) to compare it with the AIMS trajectory of Greek full-term infants, and (3) to examine the possible influence of neonatal morbidity on AIMS scores in the preterm sample.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mean AIMS scores were compared, per month (1-19), between 403 preterm infants (≤32 weeks of age, corrected for prematurity) and 1,038 full-term infants. In preterm infants, the association of AIMS scores with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) of grade ≤III, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), and sepsis was assessed by hierarchical regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Alberta Infant Motor Scale scores were significantly lower in preterm infants than in full-term infants. Mean AIMS scores in preterm infants were significantly associated with RDS (b=-1.93; 95% CI=-2.70, -1.16), IVH (b=-0.97; 95% CI=-1.69, -0.25), and ROP (b=-1.12; 95% CI=-1.99, -0.24) but not with BPD or sepsis in hierarchical regression analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Alberta Infant Motor Scale norms were created for Greek preterm infants. This study confirms that AIMS trajectories of preterm infants are below those of full-term infants of the same nationality. The influence of morbidity factors, including RDS, IVH, and ROP, should be taken into account when administering the AIMS in preterm infants.
authors.affiliation: D. Syrengelas, PT, MSc, Department of Pediatric Physical Therapy, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, Athens 11527, Greece. syreggelas@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Syrengelas
authors.affiliation: V. Kalampoki, MSc, Neonatal Unit, First Department of Pediatrics, Athens University Medical School, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Vassiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kalampoki
authors.affiliation: P. Kleisiouni, PT, Department of Pediatric Physical Therapy, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital.
authors.forename: Paraskevi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kleisiouni
authors.affiliation: V. Manta, PT, Department of Pediatric Physical Therapy, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital.
authors.forename: Vassiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Manta
authors.affiliation: S. Mellos, MD, First Department of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital.
authors.forename: Stavros
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mellos
authors.affiliation: R. Pons, MD, PhD, Neonatal Unit, First Department of Pediatrics, Athens University Medical School.
authors.forename: Roser
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pons
authors.affiliation: G.P. Chrousos, MD, MACP, MACE, FRCP, Neonatal Unit, First Department of Pediatrics, Athens University Medical School.
authors.forename: George P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Chrousos
authors.affiliation: T. Siahanidou, MD, PhD, Neonatal Unit, First Department of Pediatrics, Athens University Medical School.
authors.forename: Tania
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Siahanidou
mesh_terms: D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000502:physiology*; D020300:Intracranial Hemorrhages / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012016:Reference Values; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D012178:Retinopathy of Prematurity / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D018805:Sepsis / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D047929:Term Birth