Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 30, 2025
Hemodynamic Precision in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit using Targeted Neonatal Echocardiography
Published on: January 27, 2023
Long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes in very low birth weight infants with and without patent ductus arteriosus: A
Sarkhan Elbayiyev1, Fuat Emre Canpolat1, Gülsüm Kadıoğlu Şimşek1
1University of Health Sciences, Ankara City Hospital, Department of Neonatology, Ankara, Turkey.
Insights
Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in very preterm infants did not independently predict neurodevelopmental issues at 24 months. Medical treatments for PDA also showed no significant differences in outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Perinatal Research
Background:
- Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is linked to adverse early and long-term outcomes in very preterm infants.
- Understanding the impact of PDA and its treatment on neurodevelopment is crucial for this vulnerable population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effect of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and its medical management on the long-term developmental trajectory of very low birth weight infants.
- To determine if PDA is an independent risk factor for neurodevelopmental impairment in this cohort.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective observational study analyzed data from very low birth weight infants (<1500g, <30 weeks gestation).
- Neurodevelopmental assessments were conducted at 24 months corrected age using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development II.
- Infants receiving pharmaceutical treatment for PDA were compared to those without PDA.
Main Results:
- Of 647 infants analyzed, 44% received treatment for hemodynamically significant PDA.
- Initially, PDA prevalence was associated with higher neurodevelopmental impairment (OR 1.6).
- However, after adjusting for gestational age, birth weight, and other risk factors, PDA was not an independent predictor of neurodevelopmental problems (OR 1.12). No differences were observed between ibuprofen and paracetamol treatments.
Conclusions:
- Hemodynamically significant PDA was not found to be an independent risk factor for neurodevelopmental impairment at 24 months corrected age in very low birth weight infants.
- Further investigation is warranted to fully elucidate the relationship between PDA and neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Background:
Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) has been associated with early morbidities and long-term developmental problems in very preterm infants.
Aims:
The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of patent ductus arteriosus and medical treatment on long-term developmental outcomes in very low birth weight infants.
Study Design:
This is a retrospective case control observational study.
Subject:
The study included preterm infants who were born before 30 weeks' gestation and birth weight less than 1,500 g and underwent neurodevelopmental testing at a corrected age of 24 months during follow-up in our centre. The results of neurodevelopmental assessment using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development II at 24 months of corrected age and other morbidities were recorded.
Results:
Of 820 infants screened, the 2-year data of 647 infants (78%) were analysed. The mean gestational age was 27.4 weeks (±1.7 weeks), mean birth weight was 980 g (±250 g) and 283 (44%) of the infants received pharmaceutical treatment for hemodynamically significant PDA. The prevalence of neurodevelopmental impairment was higher in infants with PDA compared to those without PDA (odds ratio [OR], 1.6; 95% CI, 1.13-2.29; chi-square, Fisher's exact test P = .009). However, when birth weight and gestational age were corrected for as covariates and other risk factors were added to the analysis, PDA alone was not an independent risk factor for neurodevelopmental problems (OR, 1.12; 95% CI, 0.824-1.549; P = .450). There was no difference between the groups who received ibuprofen or paracetamol for PDA.
Conclusion:
Although we have not found an association between hemodynamically significant PDA and poor neurodevelopment, this potentially needs to be investigated.
