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Relation between neurodevelopmental status of very preterm infants at one and eight years
S C Roth1, J Baudin, M Pezzani-Goldsmith
1Department of Paediatrics, University College London Medical School, The Rayne Institute, UK.
Insights
Neurodevelopmental status in infants predicts long-term outcomes. Early identification of impairment in preterm infants is crucial for timely interventions and improved developmental trajectories.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal research
- Developmental pediatrics
- Child neurology
Background:
- Premature infants (< 33 weeks gestation) face higher risks of neurodevelopmental challenges.
- Early neurodevelopmental assessment is critical for identifying potential long-term issues.
- Understanding the predictive value of early assessments informs intervention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between neurodevelopmental status at one year and outcomes at eight years in preterm infants.
- To determine the predictive accuracy of early neurodevelopmental assessments for major impairments, educational needs, and intellectual disability.
- To examine the consistency of impairment types between one and eight years of age.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal cohort study of 207 infants born between 1979-1982 at < 33 weeks gestation.
- Neurodevelopmental status assessed at one year of age.
- Outcomes at eight years included major disabling impairments, need for extra educational provision, and IQ scores.
Main Results:
- Infants with normal neurodevelopment at one year had a 1% probability of major impairment at eight years.
- Among infants with impairments at one year, 56% had major impairments at eight years (92% for those with major impairments).
- Early neurodevelopmental status strongly predicted the need for extra educational support and intellectual disability (IQ < 70) at eight years.
Conclusions:
- Neurodevelopmental status at one year is a strong predictor of major disabling impairments, educational needs, and intellectual disability at eight years in preterm infants.
- Close correspondence exists between the type of major impairment identified at one and eight years.
- Early neurodevelopmental assessment in preterm infants is vital for predicting long-term outcomes and guiding interventions.
Abstract:
The relation between neurodevelopmental status at one and eight years of age was investigated in a cohort of 207 infants born between 1979 and 1982 at < 33 weeks of gestation. The probability of a major disabling impairment at eight years was only 1 per cent among 164 children with normal neurodevelopment at one year, but 56 per cent for the 43 impaired children and 92 per cent for the 23 of these who had major disabling impairments. Close correspondence was found between the type of major impairment diagnosed at one and eight years. Neurodevelopmental status at one year also predicted the need for extra educational provision by eight years, with probabilities of 9 per cent for children without impairment at one year, 56 per cent for impaired children and 87 per cent for those with major impairments. Similarly, neurodevelopmental status predicted an IQ of more than 2 SD below the mean (< 70), with probabilities of 0, 30 per cent and 48 per cent, respectively.