Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 31, 2026
Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
Longitudinal multicenter follow-up of high-risk infants: why, who, when, and what to assess
Betty R Vohr1, Michael O'Shea, Linda L Wright
1Department of Pediatrics, Women & Infants Hospital, Providence, RI 02905, USA.
Insights
Longitudinal follow-up of high-risk infants provides valuable data on health, development, and family resources. This approach helps identify modifiable risk factors and evaluate interventions for neonates.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal research
- Pediatric follow-up studies
- Infant health and development
Background:
- The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Neonatal Research Network established a protocol for longitudinal follow-up in 1993.
- This protocol focuses on infants with very low birth weight (<1001 g) and those with higher birth weights involved in Network randomized trials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the Network's experience with longitudinal follow-up of high-risk infants.
- To investigate modifiable risk factors for cerebral palsy and delayed early cognitive functioning.
- To evaluate the risks and benefits of interventions studied in randomized trials.
Main Methods:
- Infants are assessed at 18 to 22 months corrected age.
- Assessments include measures of infant health, growth, neuromotor, and early cognitive functioning, language, behavior, and family resources.
Main Results:
- Longitudinal follow-up data have been used to study risk factors and intervention outcomes.
- The Network's experience indicates the value of this follow-up approach.
Conclusions:
- Longitudinal follow-up of high-risk infants yields crucial information on treatments administered to fetuses and neonates.
- This methodology is essential for understanding long-term infant outcomes and optimizing neonatal care.
Abstract:
This article reviews experience with longitudinal follow-up of high-risk infants in the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Neonatal Research Network. In 1993, the Network initiated a research protocol to provide longitudinal follow-up of infants with birth weight less than 1001 g and infants with higher birth weights who participated in certain Network randomized trials. Infants are assessed at 18 to 22 months corrected age (corrected for degree of prematurity) using measures of the infant's health, growth, neuromotor, and early cognitive functioning, language, behavior, and family resources. Data from these assessments have been used to investigate potentially modifiable risk factors for cerebral palsy and delayed early cognitive functioning and to evaluate the risks and benefits of interventions assessed in randomized trials. The Network's experience thus far suggests that longitudinal follow-up can provide valuable information about treatments given to fetuses and neonates.
