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Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
Epidemiology of neurodevelopmental disorders in 2 years old Georgian children. Pilot study - population based
Nino Tatishvili1, Maia Gabunia, Nino Laliani
1Pediatric Neurology Department, Iashvili Children's Central Hospital, 0159 Tbilisi, Georgia. n_tatishvili@mail.ru
Insights
This study on 348 newborns found 8.5% had abnormal neurodevelopment by age two. Key risk factors for poor outcomes included maternal age and low Apgar scores at birth.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neuroscience
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Neurodevelopmental disorders are a significant concern in early childhood.
- Understanding the epidemiology and risk factors is crucial for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the epidemiology of neurodevelopmental disorders in a regional infant population.
- To identify key factors influencing neurodevelopmental outcomes up to two years of age.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 348 newborn infants was randomly selected from a regional population of 1272.
- Neurological follow-up was conducted until the age of 24 months.
- Data on neonatal pathologies and risk factors were collected and analyzed.
Main Results:
- The incidence of abnormal neurodevelopment at 24 months was 8.5% (29 cases).
- Common conditions included global developmental delay (1.5%), behavioral/sleep disorders (3.5%), and epilepsy (1.5%).
- Frequent neonatal pathologies included low Apgar scores (3.5%) and neonatal sepsis (2.2%).
Conclusions:
- Maternal age, chorioamnionitis, preterm birth (<37 weeks), pathological delivery, and low 5-minute Apgar scores were significant risk factors.
- The presence of multiple risk factors amplified the likelihood of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Abstract:
Three hundred-forty-eight out of a regional population of 1272 newborn infants were randomly chosen and followed neurologically until age of two years to study the epidemiology of neurodevelopmental disorders, and to reveal the main factors influencing outcome. The most frequent neonatal pathologies were low Apgar scores - 45 (3.5%), neonatal sepsis - 28 (2.2%), neonatal seizures - 26 (2.0%), neonatal sepsis complicated with bacterial meningitis - 13 (1.0%), traumatic injury of peripheral nerves - 7 (0.6%), intracranial hemorrhages - 4 (0.3%) and CNS malformations - 3 (0.2%). At the age of 24 months abnormal development was identified in 29 cases (8.5%) of children, comprising global developmental delay in five (1.5%), unclassified motor problems (hypotonia without ataxia) in four (1.2%), cerebral palsy in three (0.9%), behavioral/sleep disorders in 12 (3.5%) and epilepsy in five (1.5%). The most significant single risk factors for abnormal neurodevelopmental outcome were maternal age, chorioamnionitis, gestational age <37 weeks, pathological delivery, and a low (<5) Apgar score at 5min after birth. Coexistence of several risk factors increased the probability of an adverse outcome.
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