Neurodevelopmental predictors of short-term outcome in very-low-birth-weight infants

Having previously confirmed a lower developmental quotient (DQ) in very-low-birth-weight infants identified by physiotherapists as being at risk, a retrospective analysis was undertaken to ascertain which of the neurodevelopmental tests were of value in predicting subsequent poor outcome. At 3 months corrected age, 9 tests differentiated normal from at-risk infants, and infants with abnormal test results were assessed as having a 56% (mean) risk of subsequent DQ less than 100. At the 6-month assessment, 7 neurodevelopmental tests differentiated normal from at-risk infants; infants with abnormal test results had a 73% (mean) risk of subsequent DQ less than 100. At 12 months, 3 tests differentiated normal from at-risk infants; infants with abnormal test results had a 79% (mean) risk of DQ less than 100. We believe the identification of predictive tests may assist doctors and developmental therapists in assessing need for intervention and response to treatment in high-risk infants. However, it must be noted that the tests studied relate to DQ at 1 year; we are not yet in a position to comment on the relationship between 1 year DQ and subsequent neurodevelopmental outcome.