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Early motor development in infants with moderate or severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia
S B DeMauro1,2, M Burkhardt1, A Wood1
1Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Insights
Infants with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) show delayed motor skill development and increased postural asymmetry by 6 months corrected age (CA). Limiting sedating medications may improve outcomes for this high-risk group.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Development
- Pediatric Neurology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Early motor skill acquisition is crucial for overall development.
- Infants with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) face a high risk of developmental delays.
- Limited data exists on motor skill development in infants with severe BPD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize motor skill acquisition at 3 and 6 months corrected age (CA) in infants with severe BPD.
- To assess the trajectory of motor skill development during this period.
- To identify factors associated with delayed motor skill acquisition.
Main Methods:
- A single-center, retrospective descriptive study was conducted.
- Motor skills were assessed as present/normal, atypical, or absent at 3 and 6 months CA.
- Logistic regression identified clinical factors linked to negative skill acquisition trajectories.
Main Results:
- At 3 months CA, 5-44% of infants showed 10 normal motor skills; at 6 months CA, 1-63% showed 19 normal motor skills.
- Significant postural asymmetry was prevalent throughout the study.
- Skill loss, worsening asymmetry, and association of sedating medications with poor development were observed.
Conclusions:
- Infants with severe BPD exhibit delayed motor skill acquisition and postural asymmetries at 3 and 6 months CA.
- Reducing exposure to sedating medications may enhance developmental outcomes.
- Targeted early motor interventions are recommended for this vulnerable population.
Background:
Timely development of early motor skills is essential for later skill development in multiple domains. Infants with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) have significant risk for developmental delays. Early motor skill development in this population has not been described. The aim of the present study was to characterize motor skill acquisition at 3 and 6 months corrected age (CA) and assess trajectories of skill development over this time period in infants with severe BPD.
Methods:
We performed a single-center, retrospective descriptive study. Motor skills were categorized as present and normal, present but atypical, or absent at 3 and 6 months CA. Logistic regression was used to identify clinical characteristics associated with negative trajectories of skill acquisition.
Results:
Data were available for 232 infants and 187 infants at 3 and 6 months CA, respectively. Ten motor skills were present and normal in 5-44%(range) of subjects at 3 months. Nineteen motor skills were present and normal in 1-63%(range) of subjects at 6 months. Significant postural asymmetry was noted throughout the study period. Loss of skills and worsening asymmetries over time were common. Exposure to sedating medications was significantly associated with poor development.
Conclusion:
We report delays in motor skill acquisition and postural asymmetries in infants with severe BPD at both 3 and 6 months CA. The association between sedating medications and poor development suggests that efforts to limit these exposures may lead to improved development. Targeted interventions to facilitate early motor development may improve outcomes of this high-risk population.
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Introduction
The initial evaluation of a patient's respiratory system...