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Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
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Functional outcomes of very premature infants into adulthood

Saroj Saigal1

  • 1Neonatal Follow-up Program, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

Seminars in Fetal & Neonatal Medicine
|December 3, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Most very low birth weight survivors lead productive lives, functioning better than anticipated. Long-term health monitoring is crucial for these individuals as they age.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatalogy
  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Longitudinal Studies

Background:

  • Outcomes for very low birth weight (VLBW) survivors from the early neonatal intensive care era are now available into young adulthood.
  • Longitudinal cohort studies and Scandinavian national databases provide insights into their long-term development.
  • Previous findings indicate a majority of VLBW survivors lead productive lives, exceeding expectations despite disabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize and analyze the long-term outcomes of very low birth weight survivors.
  • To assess the functional status and life productivity of VLBW individuals into young adulthood.
  • To identify ongoing concerns regarding the future health of VLBW survivors as they age.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of longitudinal cohort studies.
  • Review of large Scandinavian national databases.
  • Long-term follow-up of very low birth weight survivors into young adulthood.

Main Results:

  • A significant majority of very low birth weight survivors are leading productive lives.
  • VLBW survivors are functioning better than expected in young adulthood.
  • Concerns remain regarding potential future psychopathology and cardiovascular/metabolic issues in middle age.

Conclusions:

  • Current data on very low birth weight survivors offer reassurance about their functional outcomes.
  • Long-term health surveillance is necessary to monitor for emerging issues in aging VLBW populations.
  • While not directly applicable to modern neonatal care, these findings serve as a benchmark for future outcome projections.

Keywords:
AdulthoodFunctional abilitiesQuality of lifeVery low birth weightVery preterm

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