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Published on: January 11, 2016
Prevalence of motor-skill impairment in preterm children who do not develop cerebral palsy: a systematic review
Jacqueline Williams1, Katherine J Lee, Peter J Anderson
1Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia. jacqueline.williams@vu.edu.au
Insights
Children born preterm face a high risk of motor skill issues, with 40.5% experiencing mild-moderate impairment and 19% moderate impairment. Early detection and intervention are crucial for these children.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Neuroscience
- Public Health
Background:
- Motor skill impairment is a frequent consequence for preterm infants without cerebral palsy (CP).
- Preterm birth (<37 weeks' gestation) poses risks for neurodevelopmental outcomes.
- School-aged children born preterm require assessment for non-CP related motor deficits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and estimate the prevalence of non-CP motor impairment in school-aged children born preterm.
- To synthesize current data on motor skill deficits in this vulnerable population.
- To inform surveillance and intervention strategies.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review and random effects meta-analysis of studies published post-1990.
- Searched Medline, PubMed, and PsycInfo databases for relevant research.
- Included 11 studies using standardized motor assessment batteries for school-aged preterm children.
Main Results:
- Pooled prevalence of mild-moderate motor impairment was 40.5% (40.5/100).
- Pooled prevalence of moderate motor impairment was 19.0% (19.0/100).
- A trend suggested lower impairment rates in children born before 1990 compared to those born after.
Conclusions:
- Preterm children exhibit a 3-4 times higher prevalence of motor impairment than the general population.
- Significant motor deficits necessitate enhanced monitoring and targeted interventions for preterm populations.
- Addressing non-CP motor impairment is critical for improving long-term outcomes in children born preterm.
Aim:
Motor skill impairment is a common negative outcome in children born preterm who do not develop cerebral palsy (CP). This study aimed to conduct a systematic review of current data to provide an accurate estimate of the prevalence of non-CP motor impairment in preterm children at school age.
Method:
We searched the Medline, PubMed, and PsycInfo databases and relevant journals to identify all studies published post-1990 that reported the prevalence of motor impairment in school-aged children born preterm (<37 wks' gestation) using standardised motor assessment batteries. We applied a range of exclusionary criteria, with 11 studies included in the final analyses. We identified two levels of motor impairment commonly reported - mild-moderate and moderate - and conducted a random effects meta-analysis to produce a prevalence estimate for each.
Results:
The pooled estimate for mild-moderate impairment in preterm children was 40.5/100. and for moderate motor impairment the estimate was 19.0/100. There was also a trend for lower motor impairment levels in samples born before 1990 compared with those born after 1990.
Interpretation:
Children born preterm are at increased risk of motor impairment, with prevalence three to four times greater than in the general population. This highlights the need for improved surveillance and intervention strategies in this group of children.
