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Developmental patterns from 1 to 4 years of extremely preterm infants who required home oxygen therapy
Natasha M Moon1, Heather A Mohay, Peter H Gray
1Queensland University of Technology, School of Psychology and Counselling, Beams Road Carseldine, Qld. 4034, Australia. nm.moon@student.qut.edu.au
Insights
Extremely preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) showed initial developmental delays. However, by age 4, developmental outcomes for all groups, including those on home oxygen, became comparable.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal development
- Pediatric pulmonology
- Developmental pediatrics
Background:
- Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a frequent complication of prematurity.
- Infants discharged on home oxygen face higher risks for adverse developmental outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare developmental patterns from 1 to 4 years in extremely preterm infants with BPD on home oxygen, BPD on room air, and without BPD.
- To assess long-term neurodevelopmental trajectories in relation to BPD severity and respiratory support at discharge.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal follow-up of 276 infants (gestational age <28 weeks or birthweight <1000 g) without sensory/motor disabilities to 4 years corrected age.
- Developmental assessments using Griffiths Mental Development Scales at 1 and 2 years, and McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities at 4 years.
Main Results:
- At 1 year, the non-BPD group scored significantly higher than both BPD groups.
- At 2 years, the non-BPD group outperformed the BPD-home oxygen group.
- By 4 years corrected age, no significant developmental differences were observed between the three groups.
Conclusions:
- Extremely preterm children with BPD experience an initial developmental lag compared to peers.
- While BPD infants on room air caught up by 2 years, those on home oxygen showed persistent lower scores at that time.
- All extremely preterm infants, regardless of BPD status or home oxygen use, demonstrated comparable developmental outcomes by 4 years corrected age.
Background:
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) remains a common complication of prematurity, with those being discharged on home oxygen at particularly high risk of adverse developmental outcomes.
Aims:
To compare the developmental patterns, from 1 to 4 years, of extremely preterm infants with BPD discharged from hospital on home oxygen, extremely preterm infants with BPD discharged breathing room air, and extremely preterm infants without BPD.
Subjects:
Two hundred and seventy-six infants with a gestational age of <28 weeks or birthweight <1000 g, free from sensory and motor disabilities who were followed up longitudinally to 4 years corrected age.
Outcome Measures:
Children were assessed on the Griffiths Mental Development Scales at 1 and 2 years corrected age, and the McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities at 4 years corrected age.
Results:
The developmental trajectories of the three groups did not differ significantly, however at 1 year corrected age the non-BPD group had significantly higher developmental scores than both BPD groups. At 2 years corrected age the non-BPD group had significantly higher developmental scores than the BPD-home oxygen group, and at 4 years corrected age no differences between the groups were evident.
Conclusions:
Extremely preterm children with BPD exhibited an initial developmental lag compared to preterm peers. Children with BPD discharged breathing room air had developmental scores at 2 years corrected age that were comparable to the non-BPD group, but those discharged on home oxygen still had lower developmental scores. At 4 years, no differences between the groups were evident.
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