Related Experiment Videos
Disabilities in survivors of low birthweight
Insights
This study examined birth impairments in low birthweight survivors. Higher birthweight groups (1751-2000g) showed more preventable prenatal impairments, suggesting a future rise in disabilities as mortality decreases.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Low birthweight (LBW) is a significant risk factor for childhood impairments.
- Understanding the relationship between specific birthweight ranges and impairment types is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and origin of impairments in LBW survivors (≤2000g).
- To assess the proportion of preventable impairments in different LBW categories.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study using health visitor and school health records.
- Data abstracted for survivors born in 1970, 1971, and 1973 within the South East Thames Regional Health Authority.
- Analysis of impairment prevalence and origin (prenatal vs. postnatal) by birthweight strata.
Main Results:
- Impairment prevalence was 20% for ≤1500g, 13% for 1501-1750g, and 11% for 1751-2000g.
- In the ≤1500g group, 50% of impairments were serious, with only 20% of prenatal origin.
- In the 1751-2000g group, 3% faced severe disability, but over 40% of impairments were prenatal and harder to prevent.
Conclusions:
- While LBW infants (≤1500g) have higher impairment rates, a significant portion are preventable.
- The 1751-2000g birthweight group has a growing number of survivors with a higher proportion of difficult-to-prevent prenatal impairments.
- Future declines in mortality for heavier LBW infants may lead to an increased burden of impairments in this group.
Abstract:
A study of those survivors weighing 2000 g or less at birth born to residents of the South East Thames Regional Health Authority in 1970, '71, and '73 was carried out by abstracting data from health visitors' and school health records. Some postnatal information was available for 78% of the children. Prevalences of reported impairments in relation to birthweight were 20% in babies of 1500 g or less, 13% in the group weighing 1501 to 1750 g, and 11% for those of 1751 to 2000 g. Only half the impairments in the first group were likely to be seriously disabling, and only a fifth were of obvious prenatal origin. In the heaviest group, about 3% were likely to become severely disabled, but in over two fifths with impairment, this was likely to be of prenatal origin and therefore more difficult to prevent. This factor together with the larger number of survivors of birthweight 1751 to 2000 g than of 1500 g or less, indicate that an increase in impairments may be seen in the heavier group if their mortality continues to fall.