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Published on: January 7, 2018
Twelve-month neurodevelopmental outcome in preterm infants with and without intrauterine growth restriction
Nelly Padilla1, Josep Perapoch, Antonio Carrascosa
1Department of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, ICGON, Hospital Clinic-IDIBAPS, Universidad de Barcelona, Spain. fpadilla@clinic.ub.es
Insights
Preterm infants with severe intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) showed no significant neurodevelopmental differences at 12 months corrected age. However, IUGR infants had lower weight, length, and head circumference at one year.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal research
- Developmental pediatrics
- Perinatal medicine
Background:
- Severe intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) affects preterm infant development.
- Neurodevelopmental outcomes in these infants require thorough evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare neurodevelopmental outcomes at 12 months corrected age in preterm infants with and without severe IUGR.
- To identify potential long-term growth discrepancies.
Main Methods:
- Prospective follow-up of 37 preterm infants with severe IUGR and 36 appropriate-for-gestational-age controls (26-34 weeks gestation).
- Neurodevelopmental assessment at 12 months corrected age using Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination and Bayley Scale for Infant Development-II.
- Recording of neonatal and infant data, including anthropometric measurements at 1 year.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in mental development index (MDI) or psychomotor development index (PDI) between IUGR and control groups.
- MDI scores: 98.8 vs 98.4 (p=0.9); PDI scores: 91.7 vs 95.5 (p=0.2).
- IUGR infants exhibited significantly lower weight, length, and head circumference at 1 year.
Conclusions:
- Preterm infants with severe IUGR did not demonstrate significant neurodevelopmental deficits at 12 months corrected age compared to controls.
- A non-significant trend towards lower PDI was observed in the IUGR group.
- Persistent growth deficits (weight, length, head circumference) were noted in IUGR infants at one year.
Aim:
To evaluate the neurodevelopmental outcome at 12 months' corrected age in preterm infants with and without severe intrauterine growth restriction.
Methods:
This prospective follow-up study included 37 infants with severe intrauterine growth restriction and 36 appropriate-for-gestational-age infants born between 26 and 34 weeks. Neonatal and infant data were prospectively recorded. Infants were assessed at 12 ± 2 months' corrected age with the Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination and the Bayley Scale for Infant Development version-II.
Results:
Both groups were similar in demographic characteristics and perinatal status. No significant differences in neurodevelopmental performance were found. The mental development index was 98.8 (SD 9.0) vs 98.4 (SD 13.1) (p = 0.9) and the psychomotor development index was 91.7 (SD 9.9) vs 95.5 (SD 13.4) (p = 0.2) for the study and reference groups respectively. Neurological assessment showed no significant differences between the two groups.
Conclusion:
Although the study group showed a non-significant trend towards a lower score in the psychomotor development index than the reference group, significant differences at 12 months could not be demonstrated. IUGR infants continued to have significantly lower weight, length and head circumference at 1 year.
