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Published on: December 31, 2015
Mortality and morbidity of preterm neonates weighing less than 750g: A 2-year retrospective cohort study
D Carriere1, E Kantor2, H Torchin3
1Service de Médecine et Réanimation néonatales, maternité Port-Royal, Hôpital Cochin-Broca-Hôtel-Dieu, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris V, 53, boulevard de l'Observatoire, 75014 Paris, France.
Insights
Extremely premature infants (<750g) face high neonatal mortality and morbidity. At 2 years corrected age, most survivors experience mild developmental or growth issues, requiring ongoing monitoring.
Area of Science:
- Neonatology
- Perinatal Medicine
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Premature birth rates are rising in France, with significant morbidity and mortality in extremely premature infants.
- Despite medical advancements, extremely low-birth-weight neonates (<750g) remain a vulnerable population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the morbidity and mortality rates in preterm neonates weighing less than 750g.
- To assess the neurodevelopmental and growth outcomes of these infants at 2 years corrected age.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective monocentric study of preterm infants weighing <750g born between May 2011 and April 2013.
- Neonatal mortality and morbidity were assessed, followed by developmental quotient (DQ) using the Brunet-Lézine test, neurosensory, and growth evaluations at 2 years corrected age.
Main Results:
- Neonatal mortality was 27% (29/107 infants). Female sex and higher birth weight predicted survival.
- At 2 years corrected age, 52.6% had a DQc <85, 10% had cerebral palsy, and 39.2% showed language delay. Persistent growth retardation was observed in 28.8%.
Conclusions:
- Extremely low-birth-weight infants exhibit high neonatal morbidity and mortality.
- A significant proportion of survivors experience mild developmental and growth challenges at 2 years corrected age, necessitating long-term follow-up.
Background:
The rate of premature births in France is 6% and is increasing, as is the rate of extremely premature births. Morbidity and mortality rates in this population remain high despite significant medical progress. We aimed to evaluate the morbidity and mortality rate in preterm neonates weighing<750g and to evaluate their outcome at 2 years' corrected age (CA).
Methods:
This was a retrospective monocentric study including babies born between May 2011 and April 2013 who were preterm and weighed<750g. We evaluated mortality and morbidity in the neonatal period. At 2 years' CA, we focused on developmental quotient (DQ) with the Brunet-Lézine test, on neurosensory assessment (sleeping/behavior), and growth evaluation.
Results:
Among the 107 infants included, 29 (27%) died in the neonatal period. Mean gestational age was 25.6 weeks' gestation. Female sex and higher birth weight were independent predictors of survival. A total of 61 (78.2%) infants showed extra-uterine growth retardation at 36 weeks' postmenstrual age. At 2 years' CA, 57 children were followed up; 38 were evaluated using the Brunet-Lézine test, 20 (52.6%) had a DQc<85, and none had a severe developmental delay (DQc<50). Six (10%) children had cerebral palsy and 22 of 56 (39.2%) showed language delay. Growth retardation persisted in 15 of 52 (28.8%) children.
Conclusion:
Our results confirm the acute fragility of extremely low-birth-weight babies with a high rate of morbidity and mortality. At 2 years' CA, this population still shows a considerable rate of mild difficulties, whose long-term evolution needs to be followed.
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