Association between the motor optimality score-revised and clinical variables of preterm infants

The goals of this study were to examine the motor repertoire and Motor Optimality Score-Revised (MOS-R) scores among the premature groups (very, moderate, and late preterm) and ascertain the connection between these metrics and the clinical variables of infants.

This study was a retrospective cohort study. Sixty-eight preterm infants, who were followed-up in a reference university hospital, were included. Prechtl's General Movement Assessment (GMA), including the MOS-R, was used as an assessment tool. Clinical variables, such as preterm birth, birthweight, length of hospitalization, admission at neonatal intensive care unit, use of invasive mechanical ventilation, duration of oxygen therapy were collected. Infants were videoed at least single time for 2-3 min between the age of 10-16 weeks corrected age.

The median MOS-R score was 21 in the very preterm group, 23 and 24 in the moderate and late preterm groups, respectively. Early preterm infants had lower MOS-R (p:0.003) and motor repertoire scores (p:0.007) compared to moderate-late preterm groups. MOS-R scores of the infants were associated with gestational age, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, neonatal intensive care (NICU) stay, ventilation and oxygen duration (p < 0.05). The same results were obtained for the motor repertoire score, except for gender (p < 0.05).

We think that it is important to closely monitor infants who have been hospitalised for a long time, who have a lower gestational age, history of bronchopulmonary dysplasia and prolonged ventilation or oxygen intake and who are in the high-risk group and to start early intervention when necessary.