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Updated: Mar 20, 2026
Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
Neurodevelopmental Outcome of Extremely Low Birth Weight Children at Corrected Age of Two Years
Kanya Mukhopadhyay1, Rama Mahajan, Prahbhjot Malhi
1Neonatal Unit and Child Psychology Unit, Department of Pediatrics, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India. Correspondence to: Dr Kanya Mukhopadhyay, Professor, Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, PGIMER, Chandigarh 160 012, India. kanyapgi@gmail.com.
Insights
Extremely low birth weight (ELBW) babies face significant risks for neurodevelopmental and behavioral issues. Early assessment is crucial for identifying and managing potential impairments in these vulnerable infants.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Developmental pediatrics
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants represent a vulnerable population requiring specialized follow-up.
- Neurodevelopmental, cognitive, and behavioral outcomes in ELBW infants are critical indicators of long-term health.
- Early identification of impairments is essential for timely intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the neurodevelopmental, cognitive, and behavioral status of extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants up to two years corrected age.
- To determine the incidence of adverse composite outcomes in ELBW infants.
- To establish risk factors for impaired development in this cohort.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 79 ELBW infants was prospectively followed.
- Assessments were conducted at 1 year (n=50), 18 months (n=47), and 2 years (n=36) corrected age.
- Adverse composite outcome included death or moderate-to-severe neurodevelopmental impairment (cerebral palsy, DQ <70, deafness, or blindness).
Main Results:
- At 1 year, 24% of ELBW infants exhibited neurological abnormalities.
- By 18 months, 54% had average motor scores (>85), while only 17% had average mental development scores.
- A high prevalence of abnormal behavioral scores (≥12) was observed in 89% of children.
- The overall adverse composite outcome rate was 35.4%.
Conclusions:
- Extremely low birth weight (ELBW) neonates are at a substantially high risk for neurodevelopmental deficits.
- Behavioral impairments are particularly prevalent in ELBW survivors.
- Long-term monitoring and targeted interventions are necessary for ELBW infants.
Objective:
To assess the neurodevelopmental, cognitive and behavioral function of extremely low birth weight babies (ELBW) till corrected age of two years.
Methods:
79 ELBW babies were enrolled and followed at 1 year (n=50), 18 months (n=47) and 2 years (n=36). Adverse composite outcome was defined as death or moderate-to-severe neurodevelopmental impairment (defined as either cerebral palsy or DQ score <70 or deafness or blindness).
Results:
At 1 year, 24% were neurologically abnormal. At 18 months, average score (>85) was seen in 25 (54%) children in motor and 8 (17%) in mental development. Abnormal behavioral score (?12) was seen in 89% children. Adverse composite outcome was present in 28 (35.4%) babies.
Conclusions:
ELBW neonates are at a high risk of neurodevelopmental and behavioral impairment.
