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Psychomotor development at 10 months as related to neonatal health status: the Stockholm Neonatal Project
E M Gerner1, M Katz-Salamon, U Hesser
1Department of Woman and Child Health, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
Insights
Preterm infants with low birthweight and neonatal complications show delayed psychomotor development. However, preterm birth itself does not significantly impact development when risk factors are absent.
Area of Science:
- Neonatology
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Preterm birth and very-low-birthweight (VLBW) infants face risks to neurodevelopment.
- Assessing psychomotor development in VLBW infants is crucial for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the psychomotor development of VLBW infants at 10 months corrected age.
- To identify prenatal, obstetric, and neonatal factors affecting development.
- To compare VLBW infant development with full-term infants.
Main Methods:
- Griffiths' Mental Developmental Scale used to assess 171 VLBW infants.
- Correlations analyzed between developmental scores and various risk factors.
- Multiple regression analysis employed to confirm findings.
Main Results:
- Prolonged ventilator treatment, patent ductus arteriosus, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, brain hemorrhage, white matter lesions, low birthweight, and low gestational age were linked to unfavorable psychomotor development.
- Preterm birth without significant risk factors did not show a significant negative impact.
- Neonatal risk factors adversely affected early development.
Conclusions:
- Specific neonatal complications significantly hinder psychomotor development in VLBW infants.
- Early identification and management of neonatal risk factors are vital for improving neurodevelopmental outcomes.
- Preterm birth alone is not a predictor of developmental delay when infants are otherwise healthy.
Abstract:
The psychomotor development of 171 preterm very-low-birthweight (VLBW) infants (birthweight < or = 1500 g) at 10 months of corrected age was assessed by the Griffiths' Mental Developmental Scale. The developmental score was related to the prenatal and obstetric risk factors and to the neonatal health status of each infant. These results, in turn, were compared to findings for a reference group of full-term infants. This analysis revealed that prolonged ventilator treatment, patent ductus arteriosus, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, brain haemorrhage with ventricle dilatation, white matter lesions, low birthweight and low gestational age influenced psychomotor development in an unfavourable manner. Multiple regression analysis confirmed most of these correlations. Preterm birth per se (when children with risk factors were excluded) in general had no significant effect on psychomotor development. However, the early development of preterm infants with several neonatal risk factors was adversely affected.