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Updated: May 2, 2026
Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
Cardiorespiratory events in extremely low birth weight infants: neurodevelopmental outcome at 1 and 2 years
M M Greene1, K Patra2, S Khan2
11] Department of Behavioral Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA [2] Department of Pediatrics, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
Insights
Cardiorespiratory events (CRE) in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants are linked to poorer language development. This impact on language skills was observed at both 8 and 20 months corrected age in ELBW survivors.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants are at high risk for medical complications.
- Cardiorespiratory events (CRE) are common in ELBW infants and may affect long-term outcomes.
- Neurodevelopmental (ND) outcomes, particularly language, are critical in this vulnerable population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between cardiorespiratory events (CRE) and neurodevelopmental (ND) outcomes.
- To assess ND outcomes at 8 and 20 months corrected age (CA) in a contemporary ELBW cohort.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of 98 ELBW infants born between 2009-2010.
- Collection of neonatal, sociodemographic, CRE, and ND data.
- ND assessments included neurologic examination and Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-III; multiple regression analyses were performed.
Main Results:
- Increased frequency of CRE correlated with lower language scores at 8 months corrected age.
- More severe CRE were associated with worse language outcomes at 20 months corrected age, after adjusting for confounding variables.
Conclusions:
- Cardiorespiratory events significantly impact language development in extremely low birth weight infants.
- These findings highlight the importance of monitoring and managing CRE to support optimal neurodevelopmental trajectories in ELBW survivors.
Objective:
To examine the association between cardiorespiratory events (CRE) and neurodevelopmental (ND) outcome at 8 and 20 months corrected age (CA) in a contemporary extremely low birth weight (ELBW )cohort.
Study Design:
Retrospective chart review of 98 ELBW infants born in 2009 to 2010 who completed ND assessments at 8 and 20 months CA. Neonatal, sociodemographic, CRE and ND data were collected. ND outcome measures included neurologic examination and results from the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-III. Multiple regression analyses adjusted for the impact of neonatal risk factors on ND outcome.
Result:
After adjusting for neonatal and social variables, greater frequency of CRE was related to worse language scores at 8 months, while CRE of greater severity were related to worse language at 20 months CA.
Conclusion:
CRE in ELBW infants have impact on language development in the first two years of life.
