Very Preterm Infants Auditory Event-Related Potentials at Term Have Low Predictive Value for Cognitive Outcome

To assess the prognostic value of auditory event-related potentials (AERPs) registered at term equivalent age in very preterm infants.

Infants (26.5 ± 2.0 gestational weeks (GWs), n = 41 of 64 recruited) were enrolled prenatally between January 2005 and May 2007 at Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden. AERP and mismatch responses to changes in duration or frequency in pure tones were measured at term-equivalent age using EEG. Neurocognitive outcome was assessed at 2 years of corrected age with Bayley scales of infant development. At 12 years of age, the subgroup of children born before 27 GWs (n = 18) were assessed with Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children Fifth Edition (WISC-V).

Larger negative AERP amplitudes after 250 ms from stimulus onset to the standard and a negative rather than positive mismatch response to the frequency deviant were associated with higher Bayley score in univariable analysis. after adjustment for perinatal factors, only the duration mismatch response was associated with mental developmental index at 2 years of age. AERPs were not predictive of WISC-V test results at 12 years of age.

AERPs at term in very preterm infants have a low prognostic value for short-term outcome. However, AERPs do not predict long-term outcome.