Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 1, 2026

Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats
07:36

Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats

Published on: November 20, 2015

Developmental problems in very prematurely born children

Hanne Agerholm1, Steen Rosthøj, Finn Ebbesen

  • 1Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy Department, Aarhus University Hospital, Aalborg Hospital. haa@rn.dk

Danish Medical Bulletin
|June 10, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Over half of very premature infants (<32 weeks gestation) experience developmental issues by age five. Neonatal risk factors like male gender and bronchopulmonary dysplasia are linked to poorer outcomes, highlighting the need for continued follow-up.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal care
  • Developmental pediatrics
  • Perinatal epidemiology

Background:

  • Premature birth (<32 weeks gestation) poses significant risks for long-term developmental outcomes.
  • Routine follow-up assessments are crucial for identifying and managing developmental challenges in this vulnerable population.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the developmental status at five years of age in a regional cohort of very premature infants.
  • To identify neonatal risk factors associated with adverse developmental outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 237 infants born between 24 and 31 weeks gestation (1996-2000) was assessed at age five.
  • Developmental outcomes were evaluated using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children and Miller Assessment for Preschoolers.
  • Univariate analysis identified risk factors associated with developmental problems, with results presented with 95% confidence intervals.

Main Results:

  • 14% of infants died; 86% of survivors were assessed at five years.
  • 40% had normal development, 41% required observation for deficiencies, and 19% had diagnosed deficiencies.
  • Factors associated with unfavorable outcomes included male gender, lower social group, gestational age <28 weeks, sepsis, persistent ductus arteriosus, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and abnormal cerebral ultrasound.

Conclusions:

  • More than half of very prematurely born children exhibited developmental problems by age five.
  • The number of children needing observation for developmental deficiencies was twice that of children with diagnosed deficiencies.
  • Ongoing follow-up is essential to monitor developmental trajectories and assess the impact of evolving neonatal practices.
Abstract

More Related Videos

A Rat Model of Mild Intrauterine Hypoperfusion with Microcoil Stenosis06:19

A Rat Model of Mild Intrauterine Hypoperfusion with Microcoil Stenosis

Published on: January 7, 2018

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

Related Concept Videos

Teratogenicity01:07

Teratogenicity

The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
The Nativist Approach01:21

The Nativist Approach

The nativist approach to infant cognitive development proposes that infants are born with inherent knowledge structures that allow them to interpret the world almost immediately. This perspective contrasts with earlier developmental theories, such as those proposed by Jean Piaget, which emphasized a more gradual acquisition of cognitive abilities through interaction with the environment. One key concept in this approach is object permanence — the understanding that objects continue to exist...
Language Development01:22

Language Development

Children master language quickly and with relative ease, supported by both biological predisposition and reinforcement. B. F. Skinner (1957) proposed that language is learned through reinforcement, while Noam Chomsky (1965) argued that language acquisition mechanisms are biologically determined.
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...
Inborn Errors of Metabolism01:20

Inborn Errors of Metabolism

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a protein metabolism disorder characterized by high blood levels of the amino acid phenylalanine. This results from a mutation in the gene responsible for phenylalanine hydroxylase, an enzyme that converts phenylalanine into tyrosine. When this enzyme is deficient, phenylalanine builds up in the blood, leading to symptoms such as vomiting, rashes, seizures, growth deficiency, and severe mental retardation. An early diagnosis and a diet restricting phenylalanine intake...
Piaget's Stage 1 of Cognitive Development01:14

Piaget's Stage 1 of Cognitive Development

The sensorimotor stage, the initial phase of Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development, spans the first two years of a child's life. During this period, infants actively engage with their surroundings, building cognitive awareness through direct interaction with the world. This interaction is primarily based on sensory perception and motor actions, allowing infants to gradually understand basic physical properties and predict how objects interact within their environment.
Exploration...
Neurulation01:30

Neurulation

Neurulation is the embryological process which forms the precursors of the central nervous system and occurs after gastrulation has established the three primary cell layers of the embryo: ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. In humans, the majority of this system is formed via primary neurulation, in which the central portion of the ectoderm—originally appearing as a flat sheet of cells—folds upwards and inwards, sealing off to form a hollow neural tube. As development proceeds, the anterior...