Long-term neurological development of the preterm newborns

Prematurity represents one of the risk factors of newborns' mortality, morbidity and derangements of long-term neurological development. With the increase of number of preterm newborns, problems with subsequent neurological development have also increased. Preterm population deserves great interest and a lot of investigations have been carried out in order to study their development dynamically. The goal of our study is evaluation of the preterm newborn, with gestation age <=37 weeks, estimation of their neurological developmet at the later age (6-7) and comparing them with full-term born infants of the same age. Objects of our investigation are preterm newborns, with gestation age <=37 weeks. 94 preterm newborns and 50 full-term newborns were estimated in the neonatal period and then later at the age of 6-7; methods of evaluation at the age of 6 years there were used: Standard full neurological investigation, GMFM scale (gross motor functional measure), Towen Scale for evaluation of minor motor activity, Raven Color Matrix for estimation of non-verbal cognitive functions, Coners Questionnaire for parents - for revelation of dysadaptation;. Cerebral palsy among preterm infants was observed in 15 cases-16%; in control group- 1 case-2%; Dyspraxia syndrome was observed in 32 cases-34%, in control group 9 cases-18%. The results of evaluation gross motor function with GMFM score for term group is higher,than for preterm group: 95,86 vs 83,52, p<0,001. The results of the evaluation nonverbal cognitive function with Color matrix of Raven test is higher in term group:20,20 vs 16,6; p<0,001 Syndromes of behavioral disadaptation have been observed more often among preterm newborns Score for each parts(problem of control; impulsivity, index of hyperactivity) are higher in preterm children, p<0,001. Low birth gestation can be a real risk factor for the later neurological development.. Cerebral palsy and dyspraxial syndrome is probably more among newborns with low gestation than among control group contingent;The results of the evaluation nonverbal cognitive function with Color matrix of Raven test is higher in term group. Syndromes of behavioral disadaptation have been observed more often among preterm newborns. Because of frequent//high percent of neurolodevelopmental problems preterm contingent require continuing monitoring,evaluation in dynamicaly for early distincting mild problems.