Neurodevelopmental Outcomes of Very Low Birth Weight Infants

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to observe the neurodevelopmental outcomes of the surviving very low birth weight infants (VLBWIs) and to identify the perinatal risk factors having influences on to poor neurodevelopmental outcomes . METHODS: The VLBWIs weighing 500 to 1,499 g at birth who had survived to discharge from one NICU during about a 2 year period were followed-up and assessed with using the Baley Scales of Infant Development-Second Edition (BSID-II) test and neurologic examinations when the infants corrected age was between 12 and 24 months. Developmental delay was defined as a MDI less than 70 or a PDI less than 70. The birthweight specific rates of developmental delay and cerebral palsy were examined. The perinatal data were retrospectively collected from the medical records to identify peinatal risk factors that had an influence on poor neurologic outcomes. RESULTS: Thirty three (42.9%) of the 77 VLBWIs were assessed with the BSID-II and neurologic examination, when their corrected age was between 12 and 24 months. The rate of developmental delay and cerebral palsy in the assessed infants was 15.2% and 21.2%, respectively. Extremely low birth weight infants (ELBWIs) had high rates of developmental delay (30.8%) and cerebral palsys (30.8%). Maternal old age (>35 years, odds ratio=18.0, 95% CI, 1.2-262.7, P=0.035) and periventricular leukomalacia (PVL, odds ratio=12.6, 95% CI, 1.1-148.1, P=0.044) were independently associated with developmental delay and cerebral palsy, respectively. CONCLUSION: Significant poor neurodevelopmental outcome for the VLBW infants needs a more extended follow-up study for development, and especially for the ELBWIs.