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Early intervention improves cognitive outcomes for preterm infants: randomized controlled trial
S Marianne Nordhov1, John A Rønning, Lauritz B Dahl
1University Hospital of North Norway, Department of Pediatrics, Box 53, N-9012 Tromsø, Norway. marianne.nordhov@unn.no
Insights
An early intervention improved cognitive development in children with low birth weights (<2000 g) by age 5. Motor skills showed no significant changes. This program offers benefits for high-risk infants.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Infants with birth weights (BWs) under 2000 g are at increased risk for cognitive and motor developmental delays.
- Early intervention programs aim to mitigate these risks and improve long-term outcomes.
- The Mother-Infant Transaction Program is a recognized intervention strategy for at-risk infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a modified Mother-Infant Transaction Program on cognitive and motor development in children with BWs <2000 g.
- To assess outcomes at corrected ages of 3 and 5 years.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 146 infants (BW <2000 g).
- The intervention group received a modified Mother-Infant Transaction Program; the control group did not.
- Cognitive outcomes were assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development II and Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-Revised. Motor outcomes were evaluated using the McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities and the grooved pegboard test.
Main Results:
- The intervention group showed a trend towards improved cognitive scores at 3 years (mean difference 4.5 points, P > 0.05).
- A significant improvement in full-scale IQ scores was observed at 5 years (mean difference 6.4 points, P < 0.05).
- More children in the intervention group achieved an IQ score of 85 or higher at both 3 and 5 years. No significant differences in motor outcomes were found between groups.
Conclusions:
- The modified Mother-Infant Transaction Program effectively enhanced cognitive outcomes in children with BWs <2000 g by 5 years corrected age.
- The intervention demonstrated a positive impact on cognitive development, particularly in IQ scores.
- Motor development was not significantly affected by this intervention.
Objective:
The goal was to examine the effectiveness of an early intervention on cognitive and motor outcomes at corrected ages of 3 and 5 years for children with birth weights (BWs) of <2000 g.
Methods:
A randomized controlled trial of a modified version of the Mother-Infant Transaction Program was performed. Outcomes were assessed with the Bayley Scales of Infant Development II and the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-Revised at 3 and 5 years, respectively. McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities and the grooved pegboard test were used to test motor outcomes at 5 years.
Results:
A total of 146 infants were assigned randomly (intervention group: 72 infants; control group: 74 infants). The mean BWs were 1396 ± 429 g for the intervention group and 1381 ± 436 g for the control group. After adjustment for maternal education, a nonsignificant difference in Mental Developmental Index scores at 3 years of 4.5 points (95% confidence interval: -0.3 to 9.3 points) in favor of the intervention group was found, whereas the intervention effect on full-scale IQ scores at 5 years was 6.4 points (95% confidence interval: 0.6-12.2 points). Significantly more children in the intervention group had IQ scores of ≥ 85 at 3 and 5 years. There were no differences between the groups with respect to motor outcomes.
Conclusion:
This modified version of the Mother-Infant Transaction Program improved cognitive outcomes at corrected age of 5 years for children with BWs of <2000 g.
