[Analysis of developmental function in 32 511 children with global developmental delay]

Objective: The clinical symptoms of children with global developmental delay (GDD) were analyzed to provide the scientific basis for the intervention of children with GDD. Methods: The results of the neuro-psychobehavioral scale were collected from 32 511 children with GDD from June 2020 to November 2023. Inclusion criteria: Children diagnosed with GDD according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-V, ages 0.0 to 4.9 years. Exclusion criteria: children with common hearing impairment and visual impairment. The Chi-square tests were used for statistical analysis. Results: There were more boys than girls with GDD in outpatient clinics (68.2% vs. 31.8%). Among the children, the proportion of developmental delay in 5, 4, 3, and 2 domains was 31.1%, 23.4%, 22.9% and 22.6% respectively. The rate of delay in 2-3 domains was lower in boys (41.9%) than in girls (53.1%). The rate of delay in 4-5 domains was higher in boys (58.1%) than in girls (46.9%) (χ²=352.11, P<0.001). Overall, outpatient GDD decreased with age. From 1.0-1.9 to 4.0-4.9 years of age, the proportion of children with developmental delay in 5 domains increased with age (18.2%, 36.4%, 43.9%, 52.4%). Among children aged 0.0-0.9 years, the proportion of 2 domains of developmental delay was higher (33.4%).Among children aged 1.0-1.9 years, the proportion of 2-3 domains of developmental delay was higher (30.7%). Among children aged 2.0-, 3.0-, 4.0-4.9 years, the proportion of developmental delay in 5 domains was higher (36.4%, 43.9%, 52.4%). In children with GDD, the fine motor delay occurred most frequently (85.1%), followed by social self-care (83.9%), language (79.0%), adaptation (62.3%), and gross motor (52.8%). The frequency of developmental delays in fine motor, adaptability, language, and social self-care in boys was higher than that in girls (χ²=161.37, χ²=41.10, χ²=320.90, χ²=238.54, all P<0.001). The age groups with the highest delay incidence of gross motor, fine motor, adaptability, language, and social self-care were: 4.0-4.9 years (70.6%), 3.0-3.9 years (97.4%), 4.0-4.9 years (81.2%), 2.0-2.9 years (90.9%),2.0-2.9 years (95.4%). The proportions of fine motor delay in GDD children aged 0.0-0.9, 3.0-3.9 and 4.0-4.9 years were (74.5%, 97.4%, 96.8%) and the proportions of social self-care delay in GDD children aged 1.0- and 2.0-2.9 years were (92.1%, 95.4%). Peripheral and mild developmental delays were predominant in children with GDD. The proportion of severe language delay (6.4%) was higher than that in other fields. Conclusions: The proportion of GDD children with developmental delay in 4-5 domains was 54.5%. The most frequent domain of delay was fine motor. The frequencies of developmental delays in fine motor skills, adaptability, language, and social self-care in boys were higher than in girls. Most of the developmental delays in GDD children were marginal and mild. The rate of severe developmental delay in language was higher than in other domains.