Functional impairments at school age of preterm born children with late-onset sepsis

Background

Late-onset sepsis is a relatively common complication particularly of preterm birth that affects approximately a quarter of very low birth weight infants.

Aim

We aimed to determine the motor, cognitive, and behavioural outcome at school age of preterm children with late-onset sepsis compared to matched controls.

Study design and subjects

A prospective case-control study that included preterm infants (gestational age < 32 weeks and/or birth weight < 1500 g) admitted to our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in 2000-2001 with a culture-proven late-onset sepsis, and controls matched for gestational age.

Outcome measures

At school age we assessed motor skills, intelligence, visual perception, visuomotor integration, verbal memory, attention, executive functioning, and behaviour.

Results

At 6-9 years, 21 of 32 children with late-onset sepsis (68%) had borderline or abnormal motor outcome with most problems in fine motor skills. Their total IQ was 89 compared to 98 in controls. In addition, verbal memory and attention were affected compared to controls (0.61 standard deviations (SD), 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.04-1.17, p = 0.033 and 0.94 SD, 95% CI 0.32-1.62, p = 0.011, respectively). Multiple episodes of sepsis and gram-negative sepsis were risk factors for worse cognitive outcome.

Conclusions

At school age, a majority of preterm children with late-onset sepsis had motor problems. Their IQ was considerably lower than matched controls, and memory and attention were specifically impaired. Outcome at school age of preterm children with late-onset sepsis was worse than previously thought.     

Neurodevelopmental outcome over time of preterm born children ≤750 g at birth

Background

Extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants are at risk of cognitive impairment and follow-up is therefore of major importance. The age at which their neurodevelopmental outcome (NDO) can reliably be predicted differs in the literature.

Aims

To describe NDO at 2, 3.5 and 5.5 years in an ELBW cohort. To examine the value of NDO at 2 years corrected age (CA) for prediction of NDO at 3.5 and 5.5 years.

Study design

A retrospective cross-sectional and longitudinal cohort study.

Subjects

101 children with a BW ≤ 750 g, born between 1996 and 2005, who survived NICU admission and were included in a follow-up program.

Outcome measures

NDO, measured with different tests for general development and intelligence, depending on age of assessment and classified as normal (Z-score ≥ − 1), mildly delayed (− 2 ≤ Z-score < − 1) or severely delayed (Z-score < − 2).

Results

At 2, 3.5 and 5.5 years 74.3, 82.2 and 76.2% had a normal NDO. A normal NDO at 2 years CA predicted a normal NDO at 3.5 and 5.5 years in 92% and 84% respectively. Of the children with a mildly or severely delayed NDO at 2 years CA the majority showed an improved NDO at 3.5 (69.2%) and 5.5 years (65.4%) respectively.

Conclusions

The majority of the children with a BW ≤ 750 g had a normal NDO at all ages. A normal NDO at 2 years CA is a good predictor for normal outcome at 3.5 and 5.5 years, whereas a delayed NDO at 2 years CA is subject to change with the majority of the children showing a better NDO at 3.5 and 5.5 years.     

Antenatal antecedents of a small head circumference at age 24-months post-term equivalent in a sample of infants born before the 28th post-menstrual week

Background

Little is known about the antecedents of microcephaly in early childhood among children born at extremely low gestational age.

Aim

To identify some of the antecedents of microcephaly at age two years among children born before the 28th week of gestation.

Study design

Observational cohort study.

Subjects

1004 infants born before the 28th week of gestation.

Outcome measures

Head circumference Z-scores of <−2 and ≥−2, <−1.

Results

Risk of microcephaly and a less severely restricted head circumference decreased monotonically with increasing gestational age. After adjusting for gestational age and other potential confounders, the risk of microcephaly at age 2 years was increased if microcephaly was present at birth [odds ratio: 8.8 ((95% confidence interval: 3.7, 21)], alpha hemolytic Streptococci were recovered from the placenta parenchyma [2.9 (1.2, 6.9)], the child was a boy [2.8 (1.6, 4.9)], and the child's mother was not married [2.5 (1.5, 4.3)]. Antecedents associated not with microcephaly, but with a less extreme reduction in head circumference were recovery of Propionibacterium sp from the placenta parenchyma [2.9 (1.5, 5.5)], tobacco exposure [2.0 (1.4, 3.0)], and increased syncytial knots in the placenta [2.0 (1.2, 3.2)].

Conclusions

Although microcephaly at birth predicts a small head circumference at 2 years among children born much before term, pregnancy and maternal characteristics provide supplemental information about the risk of a small head circumference years later. Two findings appear to be novel. Tobacco exposure during pregnancy, and organisms recovered from the placenta predict reduced head circumference at age two years.     

Signs of fetal brain sparing are not related to umbilical cord blood gases at birth

Background

Fetal chronic hypoxia leads to centralization of circulation in order to spare the vital organs brain, adrenals and the heart. This can be documented by Doppler ultrasound. Increased blood velocity in the fetal middle cerebral artery (MCA) is an acknowledged sign of centralization of circulation in chronic hypoxia, and is called brain sparing.

Aim

Our aim was to assess the relationship between signs of brain sparing in the MCA and umbilical cord blood gases at birth.

Study design

A prospective study.

Subjects

Singleton 57 high-risk pregnancies (outcome was compared with 21 normal pregnancies).

Methods

MCA Doppler was performed within 24 h of elective caesarean section in high-risk pregnancies. Umbilical cord blood gases were analysed at birth.

Main outcome measures

Cord blood gases were related to signs of centralization of fetal circulation in the MCA.

Results

No correlation between signs of brain sparing in the MCA and cord blood gases. Apgar score at 5′ < 7 was seen in three newborns, but only one of these had antenatal signs of brain sparing. Newborns with antenatal brain sparing were admitted more often (p < 0.04) and had a longer duration of stay in NICU (p < 0.03) compared to newborns without brain sparing.

Conclusion

Decreased pulsatility index in MCA is an acknowledged sign of fetal centralization of circulation during chronic hypoxia. However, signs of brain sparing are not related to cord blood gases at birth, which might suggest that redistribution of fetal circulation can maintain normal blood gases for a long time during chronic hypoxia.     

Prenatal stress and infant affective reactivity at five months of age

Background

Prospective studies concerning prenatal stress and its outcome on children's emotional development postulated a potential influence of prenatal hormonal levels or emotional stressors on child development [1-3]. In a retrospective study, an influence of maternal emotional stress on infant affective reactivity was found [4].

Aims

This study was conducted in order to confirm these findings in a prospective study design.

Study design

A prospective longitudinal study design was conducted with three study waves during pregnancy and one time point five months postnatally.

Subjects

The final sample consisted of n = 104 mother-infant dyads.

Outcome measures

Maternal baseline cortisol levels and emotional stress were assessed in each trimester of pregnancy. Children were examined with the infant reactivity battery according to Kagan & Snidman [5] at the age of five months.

Results

Mothers of children with high affective reactivity (cry score ≥ 7) were significantly less depressed (p < .10) and perceived less stress (p < .05) in mid-pregnancy and were confronted with less external stress factors (p < .10) at the end of pregnancy. Cortisol levels did not differ in both groups in any pregnancy trimenon (p > .05).

Conclusions

These data add a new specific aspect to the ‘fetal programming hypothesis’ and are the first to confirm the speculative data from retrospective studies. Baseline cortisol does not seem to be the ‘hormonal mediator’ of this association. Therefore, cortisol stress reactivity or other neuroendocrine mechanisms should be assessed in future studies.     

Inter- and intra-modal matching in very low birth weight and small for gestational age adolescents

Background

Motor problems in low birth weight children may be related to problems in sensorimotor integration processes. Specific tests of inter- and intra-modal matching have not been used in low birth weight populations.

Aim

Examine whether low birth weight adolescents have poorer performance in inter- and intra-modal matching than normal birth weight adolescents.

Study design

A population based follow up study of very low birth weight and small for gestational age children at 14 years of age.

Subjects

Fifty-three very low birth weight adolescents (VLBW: birth weight ≤ 1500 g), 59 term small for gestational age (SGA: birth weight < 10th centile) and 82 adolescents with birth weight ≥ 10th centile at term (reference group).

Outcome measures

Inter- and intra-modal matching was assessed by a manual matching task and results were presented for the preferred and the non-preferred hand in the visual (inter-modal) and proprioceptive (intra-modal) condition.

Results

VLBW adolescents performed poorer in inter- and intra-modal matching compared with the reference group. However, the results were mainly due to a higher number of adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) and a low estimated intelligence quotient (IQ_est) in the VLBW group. SGA adolescents showed poorer performance with their non-preferred hand compared with their preferred hand in both inter- and intra-modal matching, whereas adolescents in the reference group and VLBW adolescents with normal IQ_est and without CP performed equally well with both hands.

Conclusion

VLBW adolescents with normal IQ_est and without CP do not have major problems in inter- and intra-modal matching. The poorer performance with the non-preferred hand in the SGA group may suggest a specific effect of intrauterine growth retardation.     

Impact of very low birth weight infants on the family at 3 months corrected age

Background

Very low birth weight infants (VLBW, <1500 g) have increased impact on families compared to term infants. However, there is limited research examining this impact in the first months post-discharge.

Aim

To determine maternal, neonatal, and infant characteristics associated with greater impact on the family at 3 months corrected age in VLBW infants. It was hypothesized that social/environmental and medical risk factors would be associated with higher impact.

Study design

Maternal, neonatal, and infant data were collected prospectively. Parents completed the Impact on Family, Family Support, and Family Resource Scales. Associations between characteristics and impact scores were analyzed by t-test and Pearson's correlation. Regression models for each impact score identified significant risk factors for impact.

Subjects

152 VLBW infants born February 28, 2007 to September 5, 2008 who had a follow-up evaluation at 3 months corrected age.

Outcome measure

Impact on family.

Results

Siblings in the home, neonatal medical risk factors, longer hospitalization, more days on ventilator or oxygen, lower gestational age, lower social support, and poorer family resources were associated with increased impact. Multivariate analyses identified siblings in the home, poorer family resources, lower gestational age, and oxygen requirement at 3 months as the most important predictors of impact.

Conclusions

Social/environmental and medical risk factors contribute to impact on family. Families with identified risk factors should receive support services to assist them in coping with the burden of caring for a VLBW infant.     

Skin conductance measurements as pain assessment in newborn infants born at 22-27 weeks gestational age at different postnatal age

Background

To assess pain or stress in newborn infants submitted to intensive care is important but difficult, as different observational pain scales are not always reliable in premature infants. As an indicator of pain, skin conductance (SC) measurements have detected increased sweating in newborn infants > 28 gestational age (GA) submitted to heel lancing.

Objective

To measure SC during heel lancing and routine care in newborn infants, born at 22 to 27 GA, with special relation to postnatal age (PNA).

Methods

In six infants < 28 + 0 GA and 4 infants ≥ 28 + 0 GA spontaneous SC activity and behavioural state (Neonatal Pain Agitation and Sedation Scale (N-PASS)) was measured before, during and after each intervention. Measurements were repeated in each patient at different PNA.

Results

Baseline SC prior to intervention took longer time to stabilise and was higher in < 28 than in ≥ 28 + 0 PNA. The combination of heel lancing and squeezing gave an increased SC in < 28 PNA, whereas heel lancing alone gave the same SC response in ≥ 28 + 0 PNA. A possibly continued immature response in SC measurements was not observed. Oral glucose admission prior to heel lancing increased SC. Routine care did not give any changes in SC. Except during orogastric tube placement no signs of discomfort or pain could be detected by the neonatal pain, agitation and sedation scale (N-PASS) in < 28 PNA.

Conclusion

Changes in SC could be detected in infants at < 28 + 0 PNA and related to the combination of heel lancing and squeezing. A maturational development of the SC was observed in infants born < 28 GA. SC seems to be able to differentiate between pain and discomfort.     

Mother-child interaction and child developmental capacities in toddlers with major birth defects requiring newborn surgery

Background

Evidence exists of the important role of the mother-child relationship in child development, yet with the exception of prematurity, little is known of the impact of biologic risk on this relationship.

Aims

We investigated the quality of the mother-child interaction in association with early development in toddlers who had newborn surgery for major birth defects.

Methods

Ninety-three toddlers (Mean age = 24.7 months, SD = 4.6) requiring newborn surgery for major birth defects, underwent developmental testing and participated in a videotaped free play interaction with their mothers. Interactions were rated using the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development schema. Interaction ratings were compared with normative data and within group differences were also examined in relation to child developmental status.

Results

Overall mean interaction ratings were suboptimal and significantly different from normative data; with the exception of child negative mood. Forty-one children (44%) had developmental delay. Mother and child interactive behaviour ratings were consolidated into three factors (Maternal Responsivity, Maternal Intrusiveness, and Child Positive Interactivity) for multivariate analyses. Compared to children developing normally, those with developmental delay showed significantly less positive interactivity and had mothers who were less responsive and more intrusive. Child behaviour with the tester was related to child behaviour with the mother.

Conclusion

Quality of mother-child interaction is nonoptimal in children with major birth defects requiring newborn surgery. Mothers of infants with developmental delay are most at risk of interaction difficulties and may benefit from early identification and timely intervention.     

Motor trajectories from 4 to 18 months corrected age in infants born at less than 30 weeks of gestation

Background

Preterm infants are recognised as developing at a significantly slower rate than their full-term peers and with different movement quality.

Aim

This study aimed to describe the longitudinal gross motor trajectories of these infants in the first 18 months of (corrected) age and investigate factors associated with gross motor development.

Study design

A longitudinal study was conducted with convenience samples of 58 preterm infants born ≤ 29 weeks of gestation and 52 control full-term infants in Australia.

Outcome measures

The infants were assessed at 4, 8, 12 and 18 months of (corrected) age using the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS).

Results

Forty-six preterm and 48 control infants completed all four assessments. The preterm group scored significantly lower on various sub-scores at all age levels. Almost half of the preterm infants demonstrated less progression in the sit sub-scale from 4 to 8 months (corrected) age, possibly due to an imbalance between flexor and extensor strength in the trunk. At 12 and 18 months of (corrected) age, lack of rotation and fluency in their movements were evident in some preterm infants. Presence of intra-ventricular haemorrhage and chronic lung disease were associated with poor motor performance at 4 months and use of postnatal steroids was associated with poor motor performance at 4, 8 and 18 months of corrected age.

Conclusion

The imbalance between flexor and extensor muscle strength in preterm infants had a stronger impact on motor development than usually expected. The AIMS appears to be a sensitive assessment tool to demonstrate the unique movement characteristics in this preterm cohort.     

Cardiovascular and metabolic outcome in 6-8 year old offspring of women with type 1 diabetes with near-optimal glycaemic control during pregnancy

Background

High maternal glucose concentrations during diabetic pregnancy may lead to health problems in the offspring later in life. We showed in a previous nationwide study on pregnancy outcome in type 1 diabetic women that prepregnancy care was good and a near-optimal glycaemic control during pregnancy was achieved (mean HbA1c 6.2%).

Aims

We investigated to what extent current care and treatment of pregnant women with type 1 diabetes were related to cardiovascular and metabolic disturbances in the offspring at school age. Additionally, we studied the influence of level of maternal glycaemic control, preterm birth and neonatal macrosomia (birth weight > p90).

Study design

Observational cohort study.

Subjects

6-8 year old offspring of women with type 1 diabetes (ODM, n = 213) and a control group of children of non-diabetic women (n = 79).

Outcome measures

BMI, blood pressure, parameters of fasting glucose regulation and lipid metabolism, components of the metabolic syndrome (overweight, hypertension, impaired fasting glucose, dyslipidaemia).

Results

Parameters of fasting glucose regulation and lipid metabolism and the frequency of components of the metabolic syndrome did not significantly differ between ODM and controls. Systolic blood pressure was slightly higher in ODM. The influence of level of maternal glycaemic control, preterm birth and neonatal macrosomia on outcome in ODM was limited.

Conclusions

Current care and treatment of pregnant women with type 1 diabetes result in cardiovascular and metabolic outcome in the offspring at 6-8 years of age that is comparable to that in children of non-diabetic women. Further follow-up should substantiate these results at later age.     

Behavioural problems at the age of eleven years in preterm-born children with or without fetal brain sparing: A prospective cohort study

Background

In severe intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) due to placental insufficiency a haemodynamic adaptation occurs, resulting in preferential blood flow to the fetal brain (brain sparing). With Doppler ultrasound an increased ratio between the umbilical and the cerebral artery pulsatility index (U/C ratio) can be demonstrated. IUGR is associated with impaired neurodevelopmental outcome.

Objective

Evaluation of the effect of fetal brain sparing on behavioural problems at eleven years in premature born children.

Methods

Prospective cohort study in premature children born in 1989, with a gestational age of 26 0/7 to 33 0/7 weeks. An U/C ratio > 0.72 was defined as brain sparing. Behavioural problems were assessed with the parent-reported Child Behaviour Check List (CBCL) and the Teacher's Report Form (TRF). T scores > 60 for total problem score and subscales of internalizing and externalizing behaviour, were considered abnormal.

Results

Ninety-eight of the 116 survivors were assessed, of which 31 with antenatally established fetal brain sparing. According to the CBCL-total problem score 23.3% of the premature born babies in the brain sparing group had behavioural problems compared with 22.8% of those without brain sparing. According to the TRF-total problem score the percentages were 21.4% and 20.0%, respectively. Logistic regression analysis failed to show a significant association of U/C ratio with behavioural problems. In this model oxygen dependency at 28 days, IQ < 85 at five years, cranial ultrasound abnormalities, fetal growth ratio < 0.80, Apgar scores < 7 after 5 min and birth weight < p10 contributed significantly.

Conclusion

In this cohort brain sparing itself has no significant association with behavioural problems at eleven years.     

Family functioning, burden and parenting stress 2 years after very preterm birth

Background

Examining rates of difficulties in family functioning following very preterm birth has been a relatively neglected area of research.

Aims

To examine family functioning, burden and parenting stress in families with very preterm compared with term born children, and investigate influences of parental mental health problems and child neurodevelopmental disability on family outcomes in families with preterm children.

Study design

Participants were 184 very preterm and 71 term children and their parents. Parents completed the Family Assessment Device, Parenting Stress Index and Impact on Family questionnaires when their children were 2 years old (corrected for prematurity). Parental mental health and social risk information were also collected. Children were assessed for neurodevelopmental disability.

Results

Families with very preterm children reported poorer family functioning (p = .03) compared with families with term born children, with less evidence for differences between families with very preterm and term born children in parenting stress and family burden. Within very preterm families, parental mental health problems were associated with higher levels of parenting stress (p = .001), and parents of children with a neurodevelopmental disability were more likely to report higher family burden (p = .04).

Conclusions

For families with very preterm children, parental mental health symptoms and child neurodevelopmental disability may identify families at risk of greater stress and burden who may benefit from additional support.     

Aerobic exercise during pregnancy influences fetal cardiac autonomic control of heart rate and heart rate variability

Background

Previous studies using ultrasound technology showed that fetal heart rate (HR) may be responsive to maternal aerobic exercise. Although it is recognized that cardiac autonomic control may be influenced by the intrauterine environment, little is known about how maternal exercise affects fetal heart development.

Aims

This study tested the hypothesis that regular maternal exercise throughout gestation influences fetal cardiac autonomic control of HR and heart rate variability (HRV) when compared to fetuses of non-exercising women.

Study design

Magnetocardiograms (MCGs) were recorded using a dedicated fetal biomagnetometer at 28, 32 and 36 weeks gestational age (GA) from 26 regularly exercising (> 30 min of aerobic exercise, 3× per week) and 35 healthy, non-exercising pregnant women. Fetal MCG was isolated and normal R-peaks were marked to derive fetal HR and HRV in the time and frequency domains. We applied a mixed-effects model to investigate the effects of exercise, GA and fetal activity state.

Results

At 36 weeks GA, during the active fetal state, fetal HR was significantly lower in the exercise group (p = < 0.0006). Post-hoc comparisons showed significantly increased HRV in the exercise group during the active fetal state at 36 weeks GA for both time and frequency domain measures.

Conclusion

These results indicate that regular maternal exercise throughout gestation results in significantly lower fetal HR and increased HRV.     

Massage therapy improves neurodevelopment outcome at two years corrected age for very low birth weight infants

Background

Long term effects of massage therapy in very preterm newborns infants are still to be described. Few studies evaluated neurodevelopment just at six months, and included late preterm infants.

Objective

To study the effect of massage therapy on neurodevelopment of very low birth weight infants at two years corrected age.

Study design

Newborns with birth weight between ≥ 750 and ≤ 1500 g and gestational age ≤ 32 weeks were randomly assigned to massage therapy by mothers plus skin-to-skin care (Intervention Group) or just skin-to-skin care (Control Group) during their hospital stay. Growth and neurodevelopment outcome were evaluated at 2 years corrected age.

Results

We followed 73 newborns (35 in Intervention Group, and 38 in Control Group). Both groups were similar in neonatal data. Growth at 2 years corrected age was similar in both groups. Intervention Group had borderline higher Psychomotor Development Index and significantly higher Mental Development Index scores than Control Group.

Conclusions

We suggest that massage therapy by mothers combined to skin-to-skin care during neonatal hospital stay improves neurodevelopment outcome at 2 years corrected age.     

General movements in infants born from mothers with early-onset hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in relation to one year's neurodevelopmental outcome

Background:

Assessment of general movements (GMs) at three months is considered useful for prediction of adverse neurological outcome in high risk infants.

Aims:

To study the prevalence of abnormal GMs in infants born from women with early-onset hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and the association of GMs with neurodevelopmental outcome at one year.

Study design:

Prospective study, part of a randomised controlled trial of pre-birth management strategies.

Subjects:

Infants born from women with early-onset hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

Outcome measures:

GMs observation and neurological examination at term and three months corrected age; at one year neurological examination and Bayley Scales of Infant Development.

Results:

From 216 women included, 175 of 178 surviving infants (mean gestational age 31.6 weeks [SD 2.3], mean birth weight 1346 grams [SD 458]), were examined at three months. At term age normal, mildly abnormal and definitely abnormal GMs were observed in 54%, 36% and 10% respectively; and at three months in 47%, 40% and 13%. Mildly or definitely abnormal GMs at three months were not associated with abnormal neurological examination at one year, however, they were associated with delayed psychomotor development at one year (p = 0.01).

Conclusions

In this prospective study, including small for gestational age, preterm infants about half of them did not have normal GMs at term and three months. There was no association of GMs at term nor three months with neurological outcome at one year, but there was a significant association of GMs at three months with one year psychomotor development.     

Sepsis-associated electroencephalographic changes in extremely low gestational age neonates

Background

Sepsis in premature infants is associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. No previous studies have assessed acute changes in brain function during sepsis that might precede these adverse outcomes.

Methods

We performed amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) monthly, from 28 weeks until 36 weeks of postmenstrual age, on 108 premature infants born before 28 weeks of gestation. Additional aEEG recordings were performed during infants' first episode of sepsis. Two independent readers who were blinded to the infant's gestational age at birth and chronologic age, as well as to whether the infant had sepsis, evaluated aEEG recordings for the presence of burst suppression and assigned a maturation score.

Results

Burst supression was found in 22% of aEEG recordings from infants without sepsis and 57% of recordings from infants with sepsis at the time of the recording (odds ratio = 4.2; 95% confidence limits = 2.4, 7.2; p < 0.001). After adjustment for postmenstrual age at the time of the recording, the association between sepsis and burst suppression persisted (odds ratio = 2.4; 95% confidence limits = 1.2, 4.8; p = 0.01). No statistically significant difference was found in the rate of increase in aEEG maturation score between infants with sepsis and those without.

Conclusion

Sepsis is associated with acute electroencephalographic changes, as indicated by burst supression, but not with a decreased rate of brain wave maturation.     

A comparison of executive function in very preterm and term infants at 8 months corrected age

Background

Executive function (EF) emerges in infancy and continues to develop throughout childhood. Executive dysfunction is believed to contribute to learning and attention problems in children at school age. Children born very preterm are more prone to these problems than their full-term peers.

Aim

To compare EF in very preterm and full-term infants at 8 months after expected date of delivery.

Subjects

37 very preterm infants without identified disabilities, and 74 gender and age matched healthy full-term infants. The very preterm infants were all ≤ 32 weeks gestation and < 1250 g birthweight.

Outcome measures

EF tasks which measured working memory, inhibition of distraction, and planning at 8 months after expected date of delivery.

Results

The very preterm infants performed significantly more poorly than the full-term infants on all measures of executive function. No significant differences were found between very preterm and full-term infants on any of potentially confounding variables of, infant temperament, maternal education, family income and maternal psychological wellbeing. Very preterm infants had significantly lower scores on the Mental Development Index (MDI) and Psychomotor Development Index (PDI) on the Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID II), however when this was partialled out the differences in EF scores remained. Medical complications, lower birthweight and lower gestation age were all found to adversely affect the performance of very preterm infants on executive function tasks.

Conclusion

Very preterm infants performed more poorly than full-term infants on measures of EF. Further follow up studies are required to investigate whether EF measures in infancy can predict learning and attention outcome at school age.     

A model to predict motor performance in preterm infants at 5 years

Background

Approximately 60% of preterm infants who are assessed at 5 years for motor performance in a standardized multidisciplinary follow-up program are found to have normal results, indicating that, for these children, routine motor assessment at this age is unnecessary.

Aim

To improve the efficiency of our follow-up practice for motor assessment by developing a model to predict motor performance of preterm infants at 5 years with a maximal sensitivity (≥90%).

Study design

Longitudinal design.

Subjects

We included preterm infants (n = 371) with a gestational age of ≤32 weeks; children with severe disabilities were excluded.

Outcome measures

The Movement Assessment Battery for Children (M-ABC) at 5 years with ‘delayed’ motor performance (<15 percentile) was the dependent variable. As factors in the model, we used twenty neonatal risk factors, the maternal education level, the Motor Scale and the Behavior Rating Scale (BRS) of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development, 2nd edition, at 2½ years.

Results

Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that the prediction model (n = 345) reached a sensitivity of 94%. Five factors contributed significantly (p < 0.05) to the model: a Motor Scale PDI <90 and a BRS ‘motor quality’ <26 percentile, and the neonatal risk factors gestational age <30 weeks, male gender and intra-ventricular hemorrhage.

Conclusion

The prediction model can improve the efficiency of follow-up practice for motor assessment by 37% at 5 years. Applying this model, we would not have assessed 129 children and would have missed six children.