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Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
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Long-term cognition, achievement, socioemotional, and behavioral development of healthy late-preterm infants

Matthew J Gurka1, Jennifer LoCasale-Crouch, James A Blackman

  • 1Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908-0717, USA. mgurka@virginia.edu

Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
|June 10, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Healthy late-preterm infants show no significant cognitive or behavioral differences compared to full-term peers up to age 15. These findings suggest late preterm birth does not negatively impact child development outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric developmental psychology
  • Neonatal outcomes research

Background:

  • Late preterm birth (34-36 weeks gestation) is common.
  • Previous research on long-term outcomes for healthy late preterm infants is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare cognitive, achievement, socioemotional, and behavioral outcomes in healthy late preterm versus full-term children.
  • To assess developmental trajectories from age 4 through 15 years.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective cohort study of 1298 children, including 53 born late preterm.
  • Utilized the Woodcock-Johnson Psycho-Educational Battery-Revised and Child Behavior Checklist.
  • Repeated assessments from birth through age 15.

Main Results:

  • No consistent significant differences were observed between late preterm and full-term children.
  • Outcome measure differences were minimal, with confidence intervals indicating no meaningful disadvantage.
  • Developmental trajectories were similar across both groups.

Conclusions:

  • Healthy late preterm infants demonstrate comparable cognitive, achievement, and socioemotional development to full-term peers.
  • Late preterm birth does not appear to impose a lasting developmental burden on otherwise healthy children.
Abstract

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