Neurodevelopmental outcomes and predictors among late preterm infants: a 6-month prospective cohort study

Late preterm infants (33-36 weeks gestation) are at increased risk for neurodevelopmental delays, but early signs often go unrecognized due to subtle presentations and inconsistent follow-up. While screening tools are available, few studies have examined how well parents identify developmental concerns compared to trained professionals.

To evaluate neurodevelopmental outcomes in late preterm infants at 3 and 6 months of corrected age by comparing parental and therapist-reported developmental scores, and to identify predictors influencing developmental scores.

Sixty late preterm infants were screened using the Trivandrum Developmental Screening Tool (TDST) at discharge and followed up at 3 and 6 months of corrected age. Both therapists and parents completed the TDST independently during follow-up. Developmental scores were compared using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Regression analyses were conducted to identify predictors that influence parent and therapist scoring. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

At 3 months there is no significant difference between the parent and therapist TDST overall scores, while at 6 months, therapist and parent TDST overall scores showed significant difference (p < 0.001). Regression analysis identified rolling and object transfer as strong predictors of overall scores for both parent and therapist scores at 6 months.

Despite similar overall scores at 3 months, significant discrepancies between parent and therapist scoring emerged by 6 months. These findings emphasise the importance of caregiver education in early neurodevelopmental surveillance.