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Bronchopulmonary dysplasia: a comparative study of motor development to two years of age
Yvonne Burns1, Peter Gray, Michael O'Callaghan
1Department of Physiotherapy, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia.
Insights
Children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) showed initial gross motor delays. While catch-up occurred by age two, impaired postural control persisted, especially in those with poor growth.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neonatology
- Developmental Neuroscience
Background:
- Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a chronic lung disease affecting preterm infants.
- BPD can impact neurodevelopmental outcomes, including motor skills.
- Early identification of motor deficits is crucial for intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of BPD on motor development in the first two years of life.
- To assess gross motor skills, postural control, and balance in infants with BPD.
- To explore factors influencing motor outcomes in BPD survivors.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study comparing 64 infants with BPD to 53 controls.
- Neuro-sensory and motor development assessment (NSMDA) used at 8 months and 2 years corrected age.
- Analysis considered factors like periventricular hemorrhage, ventricular dilatation, and growth centiles.
Main Results:
- Infants with BPD exhibited significant gross motor delays at 8 months.
- By 2 years, substantial motor catch-up was observed, but significant differences in postural control and balance remained.
- Poor growth (<10th centile) in BPD infants was associated with poorer motor performance and neurological status.
Conclusions:
- BPD influences early motor development, with persistent challenges in postural control and balance.
- Catch-up growth and adequate nutrition are vital for optimizing motor outcomes in BPD survivors.
- Further research is needed to understand long-term neurodevelopmental trajectories in BPD.
Abstract:
This study investigated the influence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) on the motor development of children in the first two years of life. Sixty-four children with BPD and 53 control infants were assessed at eight months and two years corrected for prematurity using the neuro-sensory and motor development assessment (NSMDA). Results indicated a significant delay in gross motor performance of the study children at eight months. By two years, considerable catch-up had occurred, but a significant difference in postural control and balance between the study and control groups was identified. When corrected for periventricular haemorrhage and ventricular dilatation, although substantial, the difference was not statistically significant. When growth <10th centile was considered in the study infants, postural control, overall motor performance and neurological status were significantly less than in those whose growth was within normal limits.
