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Long-term hospitalization of failure-to-thrive infants: developmental outcome at three years
Insights
Infants with failure-to-thrive (FTT) showed lasting intellectual delays despite hospitalization. Factors like socioeconomic status influenced outcomes, highlighting the need for further FTT intervention research.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Failure-to-thrive (FTT) is a complex condition requiring intervention.
- Extended hospitalization is one treatment approach for severe FTT.
- Long-term developmental outcomes for FTT infants post-hospitalization require further study.
Purpose of the Study:
- To document the later developmental outcomes of infants treated for FTT with extended hospitalization.
- To identify demographic, medical, and treatment factors associated with developmental outcomes in FTT infants.
- To explore the relationship between growth maintenance and developmental progress in this cohort.
Main Methods:
- Follow-up assessments at approximately 3 years of age for 29 FTT infants.
- Standardized intellectual and physical development assessments.
- Interviews for demographic, health, placement, and treatment data.
- Statistical analyses including ANOVAs, chi-square tests, and correlational analyses.
Main Results:
- Infants exhibited persistent intellectual delays at follow-up, despite weight gain during hospitalization.
- Over half experienced chronic health issues, and many were in foster care.
- Optimal growth was linked to being full-term, later birth order, and no history of abuse.
- Intellectual functioning correlated solely with parental/caretaker socioeconomic status.
Conclusions:
- Extended hospitalization for FTT may not fully resolve developmental deficits.
- Socioeconomic factors significantly impact intellectual outcomes in FTT infants.
- Placement in foster care often resulted in non-reunification with biological families.
- Further research is needed to understand the determinants and effectiveness of extended hospitalization for FTT.
Abstract:
The present study documented later developmental outcome in a group of 29 failure-to-thrive (FTT) infants who received extended hospitalization in infancy as an intervention for their growth failure. All infants were seen at approximately 3 years of age and were given standardized assessments of intellectual and physical development. A standard interview documented demographic variables, health problems, placements subsequent to hospitalization and additional psychological and medical treatment. Infants were divided into three groups dependent on medical and treatment factors. Means and percentages of occurrence of outcome variables were compared through either one-way ANOVAS or single sample chi-square tests with post hoc analyses. Correlational analyses were used to understand the relationships between outcome and relevant demographic, medical, and treatment variables. In general, the infants manifest persistent intellectual delays at follow-up despite maintenance of weight gains achieved during early hospitalization. More than half the group suffered from chronic health problems. A large percentage of infants had been removed from parental custody at the time of follow-up. Several demographic, medical, and treatment factors bore moderate relationships to developmental outcome. Infants who achieved more optimal growth tended to be full-term at birth, later born and without a question of physical abuse in their social histories. Intellectual functioning was related only to parental and caretaker socioeconomic status. Infants placed in foster care were unlikely to return to their families of origin. The findings suggest the need for further investigation into the determinants and outcome of extended hospitalization as a treatment for FTT.