Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 15, 2026

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
19:15

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

Published on: August 25, 2014

Growth and neurodevelopmental outcome of VLBW infants at 1 year corrected age

M Modi1, S Saluja, N Kler

  • 1Department of Neonatology, Center for Child Health, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi. drmanojmodi@gmail.com

Indian Pediatrics
|December 21, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Very low birth weight (VLBW) infants experience growth faltering in the NICU but show catch-up growth later. However, VLBW infants lag behind normal birth weight (NBW) infants in physical growth and neurodevelopment at one year.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatalogy
  • Pediatric Growth and Development
  • Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics

Background:

  • Infant growth and neurodevelopment are critical indicators of long-term health.
  • Very low birth weight (VLBW) infants face unique challenges compared to normal birth weight (NBW) infants.
  • Understanding the trajectory of VLBW infant development is essential for timely interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the growth and neurodevelopmental outcomes of VLBW infants with NBW infants.
  • To track anthropometric measurements and developmental quotients (DQ) up to 12 months corrected age.
  • To identify growth patterns and developmental differences between VLBW and NBW infants.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective cohort study was conducted in a tertiary care neonatal unit in northern India.
  • 37 VLBW and 35 NBW infants were enrolled between January 2007 and December 2007.
  • Anthropometric measurements (Z-scores) and DQ were assessed serially from birth to 12 months corrected age.

Main Results:

  • VLBW infants showed a significant drop in Z-scores for weight, length, and head circumference (HC) by discharge.
  • Catch-up growth was observed, but VLBW infants had significantly lower Z-scores for weight, length, and HC at 12 months corrected age compared to NBW infants.
  • VLBW infants exhibited a significantly lower DQ at 12 months corrected age (91.5±7.8) than NBW infants (97.5±5.3).

Conclusions:

  • VLBW infants experience growth faltering during NICU stay, followed by catch-up growth in infancy.
  • Despite catch-up, VLBW infants demonstrate persistent deficits in physical growth and neurodevelopment at one year corrected age compared to NBW infants.
  • These findings highlight the need for continued monitoring and support for VLBW infants' long-term development.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Neurodevelopmental Reflex Testing in Neonatal Rat Pups09:35

Neurodevelopmental Reflex Testing in Neonatal Rat Pups

Published on: April 24, 2017

Mouse Models of Periventricular Leukomalacia06:24

Mouse Models of Periventricular Leukomalacia

Published on: May 18, 2010

Related Concept Videos

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...
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...