title: The Role of Follow-up in Monitoring the Outcomes of Prematurity in a Cohort of Romanian Infants.
abstract: The rate of preterm births in Romania is one of the highest among European countries. However, there is little information regarding the ways in which premature birth affects the outcome in Romanian preterm infants.
  
  
  
  To investigate the effects of early developmental intervention after discharge from the hospital on motor and cognitive development in preterm infants.
  
  
  
  Longitudinal observational study.
  
  
  
  We performed the Amiel-Tison neurologic evaluation at discharge and the Bayley Scales of Infant Development from 3 to 24 months. Based on these evaluations, an outcome score was formulated.
  
  
  
  Between 2007 and 2010, 1157 of 2793 premature infants were included into the study. There was a negative correlation between the number of evaluations and the risk of developing neurologic sequelae (p<0.001). The correlation analysis demonstrated a significant association between the final category of risk at the end of the follow up program and the degree of compliance (p<0.01). At 24 months evaluation, there was a correlation between the low gestational age and the risk of developing severe neurologic sequelae (p<0.001).
  
  
  
  This study shows the importance of follow up program in decreasing the risk of developing neurologic sequelae in preterm infants.
authors.affiliation: Regional Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cuza-Voda Clinical Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Iasi, Romania.
authors.forename: Anca
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bivoleanu
authors.affiliation: Regional Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Division of Neonatology, Department of Mother and Child Care, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cuza-Voda Clinical Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Iasi, Romania.
authors.forename: Andreea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Avasiloaiei
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine and Interdisciplinary Sciences, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania.
authors.forename: Mihaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moscalu
authors.affiliation: Regional Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Division of Neonatology, Department of Mother and Child Care, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cuza-Voda Clinical Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Iasi, Romania.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stamatin
mesh_terms: D000359:Aftercare / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D002657:Child Development; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000068104:Infant Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000254:growth & development*; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012383:Romania / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Neurologic sequelae; infants; monitoring; prematurity