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Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

Newborn head size and neurological status. Predictors of growth and development of low birth weight infants

S J Gross, N Kosmetatos, C T Grimes

    American Journal of Diseases of Children (1960)
    |August 1, 1978
    PubMed

    Insights

    Neonatal head circumference below the tenth percentile and abnormal newborn neurological exams predict poor growth and developmental deficits in infants born weighing 2,000 grams or less. These early indicators are crucial for identifying at-risk infants.

    Area of Science:

    • Neonatalogy
    • Developmental Pediatrics
    • Pediatric Neurology

    Background:

    • Infants born with very low birth weight (VLBW) face significant risks for adverse growth and neurodevelopmental outcomes.
    • Early identification of predictive factors is essential for timely intervention and improved prognosis.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To identify early predictors of growth and neurodevelopmental outcomes in infants with birth weights of 2,000 grams or less.
    • To examine the association between neonatal clinical data and developmental trajectories at approximately 5 years of age.

    Main Methods:

    • Longitudinal evaluation of 118 infants with birth weights ≤2,000 grams.
    • Assessment of neonatal data, including head circumference, neurological examination, and intrauterine growth retardation.
    • Follow-up evaluations at approximately 5 years of age focusing on growth, microcephaly, neurological deficits, and intellectual attainment.

    Main Results:

    • Head circumference <10th percentile at birth and abnormal newborn neurological exams significantly predicted poor growth and neurological deficits.
    • Neonatal microcephaly was strongly associated with poor intellectual attainment at 5 years.
    • Factors like intrauterine growth retardation, low Apgar scores, and low socioeconomic status correlated with adverse outcomes.

    Conclusions:

    • Neonatal head circumference and neurological status are critical early indicators for neurodevelopmental outcomes in VLBW infants.
    • Early microcephaly is a significant marker for impaired intellectual development.
    • A combination of clinical and socioeconomic factors influences long-term outcomes in this vulnerable population.

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