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Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

Developmental function of very-low-birth-weight infants and full-term infants in early childhood

Pei-Shan Chen1, Suh-Fang Jeng, Kuo-Inn Tsou

  • 1School and Graduate Institute of Physical Therapy and Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Taiwan University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.

Journal of the Formosan Medical Association = Taiwan Yi Zhi
|March 18, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants show higher risks for functional impairments in areas like motor skills and communication compared to full-term infants. Early screening and follow-up are crucial for VLBW infants facing developmental challenges.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric developmental assessment
  • Neonatal outcomes research
  • Childhood functional status evaluation

Background:

  • Surviving very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants face increased risks for neurodevelopmental impairments and educational difficulties.
  • Limited research exists on the functional status of VLBW survivors in key developmental domains.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess and compare the functional status of VLBW infants and full-term infants in early childhood.
  • To identify risk factors associated with functional morbidity in VLBW infants.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective follow-up study including 238 VLBW infants and 91 full-term infants.
  • Functional status assessed using the Chinese Child Development Inventory (CCDI).
  • Neurodevelopment evaluated with Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID-II) at 3 years corrected age.

Main Results:

  • VLBW infants scored lower on all CCDI measures compared to full-term infants.
  • Significantly higher rates of functional limitations (gross motor, fine motor, language, self-help, social) in VLBW infants.
  • Risk factors for functional morbidity included prematurity (<30 weeks GA), intraventricular hemorrhage, chronic lung disease, retinopathy of prematurity, male gender, and lower maternal education.

Conclusions:

  • VLBW infants exhibit a greater risk of functional morbidity in early childhood.
  • CCDI screening can identify VLBW infants needing comprehensive developmental assessment and ongoing follow-up.
Abstract

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