title: Using cluster analysis to provide new insights into development of very low birthweight (VLBW) premature infants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Very low birthweight (VLBW) premature infant follow-up studies report on single developmental outcome variables but do not assess profiles of development.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify developmental profiles of VLBW premature infants based on cognitive and language development and their association with demographic, perinatal, and behavior variables.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective chart review.
  
  
  METHODS
  117 children<1250 g BW seen at 18 months post-term on the Bayley Scales-III and Child Behavior Checklist 1 ½-5 (CBCL 1 ½-5), a behavior problem questionnaire. Demographic and perinatal variables were obtained from medical records.
  
  
  METHODS
  Bayley Cognitive, Expressive Language, and Receptive Language scores were used to cluster the subjects into developmental profiles. Demographic, perinatal, and CBCL variables were analyzed as they related to clusters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children were clustered into 4 groups based on their Bayley Cognitive, Expressive Language, and Receptive Language scores: Consistently High, Consistently Average, Average with Delayed Expressive Language, and Consistently Low. Socioeconomic status, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, Grades III-IV intraventricular hemorrhage, and summary Behavior Problems and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity (ADHD) Problems scores were significantly related to clusters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cluster analysis defined distinct outcome groups in VLBW premature children and provides an informative means of identifying factors related to developmental outcome. This approach may be useful in predicting later outcome and determining which groups of children will require early intervention.
authors.affiliation: Newborn Medicine, Weill-Cornell Medical College, Box 106, 525 East 68 Street, New York, NY 10021, USA. Electronic address: gsross@med.cornell.edu.
authors.forename: Gail S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.affiliation: Newborn Medicine, Weill-Cornell Medical College, Box 106, 525 East 68 Street, New York, NY 10021, USA. Electronic address: lmforan@gmail.com.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Foran
authors.affiliation: Psychology Department, Pace University, 41 Park Row, 13th Floor, New York, NY 10038, USA. Electronic address: Bbarbot@pace.edu.
authors.forename: Baptiste
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Barbot
authors.affiliation: Psychology Department, Pace University, 41 Park Row, 13th Floor, New York, NY 10038, USA. Electronic address: ksossin@pace.edu.
authors.forename: K Mark
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Sossin
authors.affiliation: Newborn Medicine, Weill-Cornell Medical College, Box 106, 525 East 68 Street, New York, NY 10021, USA. Electronic address: jmp2007@med.cornell.edu.
authors.forename: Jeffrey M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Perlman
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000523:psychology; D007804:Language Development; D008297:Male; D000066553:Problem Behavior
keywords: Behavior problems; Cluster analysis; Cognition; Language; Very low birthweight premature infants