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Intrinsic Neurophysiological Factors Associated with the Attainment to Independent Oral Feeding in Preterm Infants

Avery Cushing1, Karlee Donovan1, Jasmine Lewis1

  • 1School of Rehabilitation Therapy, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

Physical & Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics
|May 15, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Gestational age, respiratory support duration, and patent ductus arteriosus significantly impact preterm infants' ability to feed orally. Understanding these factors is crucial for clinical practice and improving infant outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Intensive Care
  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Developmental Pediatrics

Background:

  • Preterm infants frequently struggle with achieving independent oral feeding.
  • Limited evidence exists on factors influencing successful oral feeding in this population.
  • Intrinsic neurophysiological factors are hypothesized to play a role.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between intrinsic neurophysiological factors and the attainment of independent oral feeding in preterm infants.
  • To identify key determinants influencing oral feeding success.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective study utilizing data from a level II-III neonatal intensive care unit.
  • The Oral Feeding in Preterm Infants Conceptual Model guided the selection of intrinsic factors.
  • Included factors: gestational age, sex, twin status, respiratory support duration, intraventricular hemorrhage, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, necrotizing enterocolitis, patent ductus arteriosus, and sepsis.

Main Results:

  • Analysis of 282 preterm infants (mean gestational age 31.2 weeks).
  • Simple linear regression identified gestational age, respiratory support duration, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, patent ductus arteriosus, and sepsis as associated with oral feeding attainment.
  • Multiple linear regression confirmed gestational age, patent ductus arteriosus, and duration of respiratory support as significant predictors.

Conclusions:

  • Gestational age, duration of respiratory support, and patent ductus arteriosus are critical factors for achieving independent oral feeding in preterm infants.
  • These findings highlight the importance of considering these specific neurophysiological and clinical factors in neonatal care.
  • Clinical practice should focus on managing these determinants to support oral feeding development.
Abstract

Keywords:
Bottle feedingNICUbreastfeedingneonatesprematuresucking

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