Developmental outcomes of children with congenital diaphragmatic hernia: a multicenter prospective study

Julia Wynn1, Gudrun Aspelund, Annette Zygmunt

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA.

Insights

Children with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) show lower developmental scores by age 2. Factors like ECMO, oxygen use, and socioeconomic status impact these outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Medicine
  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Neonatology

Background:

  • Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a serious birth defect affecting lung development.
  • Early developmental outcomes in CDH patients require comprehensive assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate developmental outcomes at 2 years of age in infants with CDH.
  • To identify factors associated with developmental delays in this cohort.

Main Methods:

  • A multicenter prospective study followed a CDH birth cohort.
  • Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID-III) and Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (VABS-II) were administered at 2 years.
  • Clinical, socioeconomic, and medical data were collected.

Main Results:

  • CDH patients exhibited significantly lower mean cognitive, language, and motor scores compared to norms.
  • Lower socioeconomic status, need for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), oxygen at 28 days, and tube feeds were associated with poorer outcomes.
  • Hospital readmissions and ongoing need for tube feeds at 2 years also correlated with lower scores.

Conclusions:

  • Infants with CDH demonstrate, on average, delayed development at 2 years of age.
  • Factors including severe initial treatment (ECMO), prolonged oxygen support, persistent health issues, and lower socioeconomic status are linked to these developmental deficits.
Abstract