title: Early intervention leads to long-term developmental improvements in very preterm infants, especially infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Various early intervention programmes have been developed in response to the high rate of neurodevelopmental problems in very preterm infants. We investigated longitudinal effects of the Infant Behavioral Assessment and Intervention Program on cognitive and motor development of very preterm infants at the corrected ages of six months to five and a half years.
  
  
  METHODS
  This randomised controlled trial divided 176 infants with a gestational age <32 weeks or birthweight <1500 g into intervention (n = 86) and control (n = 90) groups. Cognitive development and motor development were assessed with the Bayley Scales of Infant Development at the CAs of six, 12 and 24 months and at five and a half years with the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence and the Movement Assessment Battery for Children.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found significant longitudinal intervention effects (0.4 SD, p = 0.006) on motor development, but no significant impact on cognitive development (p = 0.063). Infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia showed significant longitudinal intervention effects for cognitive (0.7 SD; p = 0.019) and motor (0.9 SD; p = 0.026) outcomes. Maternal education had little effect on intervention effects over time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Infant Behavioral Assessment and Intervention Program led to long-term developmental improvements in the intervention group, especially in infants with BPD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jwp
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Hus
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jeukens-Visser
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koldewijn
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Informatics, Amsterdam Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Holman
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Emma's Children's Hospital, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kok
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nollet
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Emma's Children's Hospital, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Van Wassenaer-Leemhuis
mesh_terms: D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000150:complications; D003071:Cognition; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000254:growth & development*; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / Q000254:growth & development*; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills; D065886:Neurodevelopmental Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
keywords: Cognitive and motor development; Early intervention; Infant Behavioral Assessment and Intervention Program; Very low birthweight; Very preterm