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[Development over 10 years of children with birth weight less than 1501 g]
Insights
Children born with very low birth weight or infant respiratory distress syndrome (IRDS) faced high mortality rates and developmental delays by age 10. These findings highlight the long-term health challenges for high-risk newborns.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Pediatric development
- Longitudinal studies
Context:
- Follow-up of infants hospitalized in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) between 1971-1973.
- Focus on children born with very low birth weight and/or infant respiratory distress syndrome (IRDS).
Purpose:
- To re-examine the long-term outcomes of high-risk neonates at 10 years of age.
- To assess mortality rates and physical development in this cohort.
Summary:
- High mortality was observed: 38% of 122 very low birth weight children died by age 10.
- Physical development, including weight and height, was below average for their age group.
- The study re-examined 170 children initially hospitalized for very low birth weight and/or IRDS.
Impact:
- Identifies critical long-term health risks associated with neonatal intensive care.
- Informs future strategies for neonatal follow-up and developmental support.
- Underscores the need for continued research into the lasting effects of prematurity and neonatal complications.
Abstract:
170 Children born between 1971 and 73 and hospitalised at the neonatal intensive care unit of the Hospital for Children of the University of Basel because of very low birth weight and/or IRDS are re-examined at the age of 10 years. First analyses show high mortality amongst the children with very low birth weight (38% of 122 died up to the age of 10 years) and a physical development (weight and height) below that of a representative sample of children of the same age.