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Perinatal factors and 2-year minor neurodevelopmental impairment in low birth weight infants
A Spinillo1, E Fazzi, S Orcesi
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pavia University, Italy.
Insights
Few perinatal factors influence infant neurodevelopmental impairment in low birth weight babies. Key risks include poor obstetrical care, limited prenatal visits, third-trimester bleeding, neonatal acidosis, and male gender.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Developmental pediatrics
- Obstetrics
Background:
- Low birth weight infants are at higher risk for neurodevelopmental issues.
- Identifying specific perinatal risk factors is crucial for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate antenatal and perinatal factors associated with minor neurodevelopmental dysfunction in low birth weight infants.
- To identify specific risk factors for early neurodevelopmental impairment.
Main Methods:
- Case-control study involving 53 low birth weight infants with neurodevelopmental dysfunction and 106 matched controls.
- Analysis included obstetrical optimality score, logistic regression, and assessment of antenatal and perinatal factors.
Main Results:
- Worse obstetrical history (lower optimality score) was found in cases.
- Low prenatal visits and third-trimester hemorrhage were significant antenatal risks.
- Neonatal acidosis and male gender were significant perinatal risks.
Conclusions:
- A limited number of antenatal and perinatal factors are associated with minor neurodevelopmental impairment in low birth weight infants.
- Early identification of these risk factors can aid in targeted support and intervention strategies.
Abstract:
Perinatal factors were investigated in 53 low birth weight infants with minor neurodevelopmental dysfunction at 2-year follow-up and in 106 consecutive controls matched for gestational age and birth weight (within 100-gram intervals). The obstetrical history, as evaluated by the obstetrical optimality score, was significantly worse in the cases than in controls (obstetrical optimality score = 50.9 +/- 5.9 vs. 53.2 +/- 6.9, p = 0.019 by Mann-Whitney test). Multiple conditional logistic regression analysis showed that after adjustment for socioeconomic status and education of the mother, a low number (< 3) of prenatal visits, and a third trimester hemorrhage were the only antenatal factors significantly associated with an increased risk of minor infant neurodevelopmental impairment. Neonatal acidosis (pH < 7.2 in the first 24 h of life) and male gender were additional significant perinatal risk factors. Only a few antenatal and perinatal factors are correlated with subsequent minor neurodevelopmental impairment in low birth weight infants.