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Measuring developmental deficit in children born at gestational age less than 26 weeks using a parent-completed
Anne Mette Plomgaard1, Bo Moelholm Hansen, Gorm Greisen
1Department of Neonatology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Insights
Developmental deficits were assessed in extremely preterm infants using the Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ). A 22% rate of deficit in infants born before 26 weeks gestational age (GA) is considered reassuring.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal development
- Pediatric developmental assessment
- Perinatal outcomes
Background:
- Extremely preterm infants (gestational age < 26 weeks) face significant developmental challenges.
- Parental questionnaires offer a valuable tool for assessing developmental deficits in this population.
- Understanding developmental trajectories is crucial for early intervention and improved outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate developmental deficits in children born at gestational age (GA) < 26 weeks using a parental questionnaire.
- To analyze a cohort born between 1999-2003 using regression analysis.
- To compare developmental outcomes between extremely preterm, very preterm, and term-born infants.
Main Methods:
- Study included three groups: GA < 26 wk, GA 26-27 wk, and term-born children.
- The Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) was administered to parents between November 2004 and April 2005.
- Age-specific questionnaires were used, and term infants served as a reference for calculating ASQ-Standard Deviation Scores (ASQ-SDS).
Main Results:
- A 75% questionnaire return rate was achieved (n=61 for GA < 26 wk, n=57 for GA 26-27 wk, n=72 for term).
- After adjusting for parental education, 22% of infants born at GA < 26 wk and 13% born at GA 26-27 wk showed an ASQ-SDS below -2.
- Chronic lung disease of prematurity was significantly associated with developmental deficit (mean difference -1.1 ASQ-SDS, p=0.004).
Conclusions:
- The ASQ effectively identified significant developmental deficits in extremely preterm infants.
- The observed rate of 22% developmental deficit in infants born at GA < 26 weeks is considered reassuring.
- Early identification of developmental deficits is critical for timely intervention in preterm populations.
Aim:
To assess developmental deficit in children born at gestational age (GA) < 26 wk using a parental questionnaire and to use regression analysis to study a cohort born in 1999-2003.
Patients And Methods:
Three groups were studied: group 1, GA < 26 wk; group 2, GA 26-27 wk; group 3, children born at term. The Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) was used. The parents of each child were mailed an age-specific questionnaire between November 2004 and April 2005. The term children were used as a reference to calculate a standard deviation score (ASQ-SDS) for each child in the two preterm groups.
Results:
Seventy-five per cent of the questionnaires were returned (group 1: n=61; group 2: n=57; group 3: n=72). The age at scoring ranged from 12 to 60 mo (mean 32.8 mo). After correction for parental education, 22% of the children born at GA < 26 wk and 13% of those at GA 26-27 wk had an ASQ-SDS below -2. Chronic lung disease of prematurity was associated with developmental deficit (mean difference -1.1 ASQ-SDS, p=0.004).
Conclusion:
The ASQ identified a significant developmental deficit in the children born extremely preterm. The rate of 22%, however, in children born at GA < 26 wk is reassuring.
