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Updated: Mar 29, 2026
Modeling Posthemorrhagic Hydrocephalus of Prematurity in Rats
Published on: March 28, 2025
Periventricular/Intraventricular Hemorrhage and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes: A Meta-analysis
Amit Mukerji1, Vibhuti Shah2, Prakesh S Shah2
1Department of Paediatrics, McMaster Children's Hospital, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada; and mukerji@mcmaster.ca.
Context:
Periventricular/intraventricular hemorrhage (PIVH) is a common short-term morbidity in preterm infants, but its long-term neurodevelopmental impact, particularly with mild PIVH, remains unclear.
Objective:
To systematically review and meta-analyze the neurodevelopmental outcomes of preterm infants ≤34 weeks' gestation with mild and severe PIVH, compared with no PIVH.
Data Sources:
Medline, Embase, CINAHL, and PsychINFO databases from January 2000 through June 2014.
Study Selection:
Studies reporting long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes based on severity of PIVH were included.
Data Extraction:
Study characteristics, inclusion/exclusion criteria, exposures, and outcome assessment data extracted independently by 2 coauthors.
Results:
The pooled unadjusted odds ratios of the primary outcome of death or moderate-severe neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) were higher with both mild (1.48, 95% CI 1.26-1.73; 2 studies) and severe PIVH (4.72, 4.21-5.31; 3 studies); no studies reported adjusted odds ratios. Among survivors, odds of moderate-severe NDI were higher with mild and severe PIVH in both unadjusted (1.75, 1.40-2.20; 3 studies; 3.36, 3.06-3.68; 5 studies) and adjusted (1.39, 1.09-1.77; 3 studies; 2.44, 1.73-3.42; 2 studies) pooled analyses. Adjusted odds of cerebral palsy and cognitive delay were higher with severe but not mild PIVH.
Limitations:
Only observational studies were included. Fifteen of 21 included studies had a moderate-high risk of bias.
Conclusions:
Mild and severe PIVH are associated with progressively higher odds of death or moderate-severe NDI compared with no PIVH, but no studies adjusted for confounders. Among survivors, mild PIVH was associated with higher odds of moderate-severe NDI compared with no PIVH.
