Educational outcome at 8 years for children who were born extremely prematurely: a controlled study

OBJECTIVE: To assess the educational outcome and utilization of special education resources at age 8 years in children who were born extremely prematurely, and to compare this outcome with a matched cohort of children born full-term. METHODS: All children with gestational age less than 28 weeks or birthweight of less than 1000 g, born at Royal North Shore Hospital from July 1985 through June 1990 were enrolled in a study of long-term outcome. A cohort of full-term children matched for age, sex and school with non-disabled extremely premature children was enrolled at age 8 years. Children were assessed using standardized measures of cognitive and academic achievement. Information was obtained from teachers regarding educational support and academic progress. RESULTS: Of 82 extremely premature children assessed at age 8 years, 8 (10%) had a severe disability, 13 (16%) had a mild or moderate disability and 61 (74%) were non-disabled (IQ > or = 85, no neurosensory disability). Thirty-five (43%) required special education support, 22 (27%) were below grade level in reading or mathematics and 25 (30%) were performing at grade level without support. Compared with controls, non-disabled extremely premature children had lower scores on standardized measures of academic achievement and were more likely to be reported by teachers as falling below grade level in reading (48% vs 13%; P < 0.001), mathematics (48% vs 10%; P < 0.001) and spelling (48% vs 17%; P < 0.002), and to require special education support (25% vs 4%; P = 0.004). CONCLUSION: Parents and professionals caring for extremely premature children need to be alert to the additional support that these children may require at school.     

超低和极低出生体重儿神经发育结局及影响因素分析

目的 评估超低/极低出生体重儿 （ELBWI和VLBWI） 在纠正年龄 （CA） 18月时神经发育结局,探讨影响神经发育结局的因素。方法 收集2013年1月至2014年6月入住新生儿重症监护病房并存活出院的ELBWI和VLBWI病例,在CA40周、1、3、6、12、18月定期随访,评估神经发育结局。按神经发育状况分为神经发育正常组和神经发育异常组,比较两组临床资料的差异,分析ELBWI和VLBWI神经发育的危险因素。结果 共338例ELBWI和VLBWI纳入研究,15例在住院期间死亡。CA18月时,145例 （44.9%） 存活且随访资料完整,75例 （23.2%） 死亡,失访103例 （31.9%）。CA18月时,145例患儿中神经发育损伤71例 （49.0%）,3例 （2.1%） 脑性瘫痪;未发现单眼或双眼失明的视觉损伤及需要助听器的听觉损伤。Logistic回归分析发现BPD和败血症是ELBWI和VLBWI神经发育异常的独立危险因素 （OR=3.530,P < 0.001;OR=2.528,P=0.035）,BPD发生程度越重,神经发育异常的发生率越高。结论 败血症、BPD （尤其是重度BPD） 是ELBWI和VLBWI神经发育异常的危险因素。     

Growth,neurological and cognitive development in infants with a birthweight <501 g at age 5 years

Aim: To determine growth, neurological and cognitive development at 5 years of preterm infants with birthweights <501 g born in three German tertiary perinatal centres between 1998 and 2001. Methods: Structured neurological examination, the Gross Motor Function Classification Scale and the Kaufman‐Assessment‐Battery Test for Children. Results: Of 107 infants, 48 received immediate life support (gestational age 25.2 weeks [21–30.7]; birth weight 435 g [290–500]) median [range]), 27 (56%) survived until follow‐up [95% CI 39–69%], 19 (70%) could be tested. In few infants had catch‐up growth taken place. Neurological test results were normal in five infants (26%) and mildly abnormal/severely abnormal in 11 (58%)/3 (16%) infants. Visual impairment was present in eight (42%), and hearing disability in three (16%). The mean mental processing composite (IQ) was 82 [50–104] (median [range]). Conclusion: Of all resuscitated infants with a birthweight <501 g, 56% survived to school age. Of these, composite outcome score showed normal development or mild disability in one‐half, and moderate or severe disability in the other half of them. Investigators should include such infants in studies and their reports should give specific information about them.     

Neurodevelopmental outcomes of very low birth weight and extremely low birth weight infants at 18 months of corrected age associated with prenatal risk factors

Background

Very premature infants occasionally have neurodevelopmental disabilities. However, there have been quite limited data on prenatal risk factors associated with their neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Aim

To clarify the relationship between prenatal risk factors and neurodevelopmental outcomes of very premature infants.

Study design

The study design is a retrospective review.

Subjects

One hundred seventy Japanese women with a singleton pregnancy and their infants whose birth weight being less than 1500 g were included. We classified those infants into 118 appropriate for gestational age (AGA) and 52 small for gestational age (SGA) infants.

Outcome measures

Infants' neurodevelopmental outcomes at 18 months of corrected age were evaluated by the Kyoto Scale of Psychological Development 2001 (KSPD). We analyzed and compared the infants' outcomes and prenatal risk factors between two groups.

Results

Mortality and rate of infants unevaluable by KSPD because of severe impairment were not significantly different between those groups. However, the developmental quotient score of the cognitive-adaptive area in SGA infants born between 25 and 31 weeks of gestation was significantly lower than that in AGA infants randomly selected as gestation-matched controls. More advanced gestational age and heavier birth weight protected against adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in both groups. Moreover, male infants were related to the excess risk of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in the SGA group.

Conclusion

In view of the neurodevelopment of the infants, it seems that the most efficient obstetric strategy for improving prognosis of premature infants should be targeted to prolong the pregnancy period as long as the reassuring fetal status and maternal stable health condition are being confirmed.     

103例超未成熟儿及超低出生体重儿转归及影响因素分析

目的 总结超未成熟儿及超低出生体重儿发生的原因、相关影响因素及转归情况.方法 分析内蒙古医科大学附属医院2009年1月至2015年12月NICU收治的符合条件的103例超低出生体重儿及超未成熟儿的临床资料,包括母孕期病史、新生儿出生时情况、诊治经过及预后.结果 103例患儿存活67例,死亡36例,存活率65.0％ (67/103).妊娠高血压综合征、感染、胎膜早破等为发生超未成熟和超低出生体重儿的主要因素,影响两者的转归因素包括胎龄、性别、出生体重、肺出血、支气管肺发育不良、坏死性小肠结肠炎(P＜0.05).长期住院的存活患儿后期易并发贫血.死亡直接原因前4位包括肺出血、呼吸窘迫综合征、新生儿肺炎及坏死性小肠结肠炎.结论 加强高危妊娠监测管理,预防早产,加强NICU超未成熟儿及超低出生体重儿的监护管理,及早发现、及早处理各种并发症,防止医院感染发生,是提高两者存活率,改善生活质量的根本措施.     

Survival and neurodevelopmental outcome of ELBW children at 5 years of age: comparison of two cohorts born 10 years apart

Aim: To examine survival and outcome of extremely low‐birth‐weight (ELBW) children (birth weight < 1000 g) in two 5‐year periods, 10 years apart. Methods: In a retrospective population‐based study, information on all ELBW children born in Iceland in 1991–1995 and in 2001–2005 was obtained from the National Birth Registry, hospital charts and medical records. The two periods were compared. Results: In 1991–1995, 102 of 22.261 newborn children (0.5%) were extremely low birth weight compared with 70 of 20.923 newborns (0.33%) in 2001–2005 (p = 0.04). At 5 years of age, 52% (35/67) of live‐born children born in 1991–1995 were alive compared with 63% (31/49) of children born in 2001 – 2005 (p = 0.2). Six ELBW children (17%) born 1991–1995 were diagnosed with disabilities at 5 years of age, three with major neurodevelopmental disabilities compared with six (19%) born 2001–2005, thereof one with severe neurodevelopmental disabilities (p = 0.57). Conclusion: The incidence of childhood disabilities in ELBW children in Iceland remains stable despite an increase in survival rate. The severity of neurodevelopmental disabilities has decreased.     

超早产儿/超低出生体重儿临床结局的性别差异:一项倾向性评分匹配研究北大核心CSCD

目的通过倾向性评分匹配方法,探讨性别对超早产儿/超低出生体重儿(extremely preterm infant/extremely low birth weight infant,EPI/ELBWI)临床结局的影响。方法回顾性分析2011年1月1日至2020年12月31日住院的731例EPI或ELBWI的临床资料,将731例EPI/ELBWI分成男婴组与女婴组。通过倾向性评分匹配方法1∶1匹配,匹配变量包括:胎龄、出生体重、放弃积极治疗比例、小于胎龄儿比例、使用肺表面活性物质比例、1 min Apgar评分≤3分比例、机械通气比例、机械通气时间、产前使用疗程不足糖皮质激素比例和妊娠期高血压疾病比例,比较两组患儿住院期间主要并发症的发生率和出院存活率。结果匹配前,男婴组新生儿呼吸窘迫综合征、支气管肺发育不良、重度脑室内出血、脑室周围白质软化、坏死性小肠结肠炎、动脉导管未闭的发生率均显著高于女婴组(P<0.05);匹配后,男婴组仅支气管肺发育不良的发生率显著高于女婴组(P<0.05)。匹配前后,两组患儿的出院存活率差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论男婴EPI/ELBWI并发支气管肺发育不良的风险高于女婴,但男婴和女婴EPI/ELBWI的转归相似。     

超低出生体重儿经幽门喂养的回顾性研究(英文)

目的：反复呼吸暂停和心率减慢是超出生体重儿(ELBWI)特别是有患有慢性肺部疾病的ELBWI的常见问题。胃食道返流是反复呼吸暂停和心动过缓的诱因。本研究的目的是评价持续经幽门喂养对不能耐受胃管喂养的超低出生体重儿的治疗意义,并与间歇经胃管喂养作比较。方法：回顾性分析81例ELBWI的临床资料。分两组：经幽门喂养(TP)组(n=30)及经胃管喂养组(IG组)(n=49)。TP组：比较TP前,与TP期间呼吸暂停及心率减慢的发生情况,喂养耐受性,营养摄入及体重增长速度,并与NG组的患儿做比较。TP组：患儿TP期间与TP前比较,每日呼吸暂停(0.66次vs 1.64次)及心率减慢次数(B1 2.06次 vs 3.32次、B2 1.66次 vs 3.18次)明显减少(P<0.05),未再出现呕吐及腹胀,在摄入蛋白及能量相似的情况下,每日体重增长速度比TP前慢(13.3±2.6 g/kg vs 15.3±3.9g/kg)(P<0.05)。TP组在TP期间与IG组蛋白能量摄入和体重增长速度无显著差异。TP组ELBWI均未发生坏死性小肠结肠炎和肠穿孔。结论：对于不能耐受胃管喂养的超低出生体重儿,经幽门喂养能显著减少呼吸暂停及心率减慢的发生率及改善喂养的耐受性。［中国当代儿科杂志,2004, 6(5): 360-364］     

Predicting neurodevelopmental impairment in preterm infants by standardized neurological assessments at 6 and 12 months corrected age

Aim: Neurodevelopmental impairment in very preterm infants can be reasonably diagnosed by 18–24 months corrected age, whereas the predictive value of earlier assessments is debated. We hypothesized that neurological findings at 6 and 12 months indicative of subsequent cerebral palsy predict 18–24 months’ neurodevelopmental impairment. Methods: Neurodevelopmental examinations (Griffiths scales) at 20 months of age in 561 preterm infants (birth weight <1 500 g) were compared with results of standardized neurological examinations (Early Motor Pattern Profile; EMPP) and Griffiths scales at 6 (n = 451) and 12 months (n = 496) corrected age. Results: Griffiths developmental quotients at 20 months were weakly but significantly related to EMPP scores at 6 (R_s = 0.328) and 12 months (R_s = 0.493). Areas under receiver operator characteristic curves for the EMPP to predict neurodevelopmental impairment (Griffiths scores ≤75) at 20 months were 0.772 (0.890) at 6 (12) months, compared to 0.915 (0.962) for Griffiths scores. By contrast, EMPP and Griffiths scores had equal power to predict unability to walk unaided at 2 years of age (EMPP 6/12 months: 0.946/0.983; Griffiths 6/12 months: 0.935/0.985). Conclusion: Neurological examinations with the EMPP at 6 and 12 months corrected age are of limited value to predict neurodevelopmental impairment at 20 months.     

Neurodevelopment of children born very preterm and free of severe disabilities: the Nord‐Pas de Calais Epipage cohort study

Aim: To describe the development of very preterm children free of cerebral palsy or severe sensory impairment in the domains of gross and fine motor functions, language and sociability at a corrected age of 2 years; to identify factors associated with performances in each domain. Methods: A total of 347 children born in 1997 before 33 weeks of gestation, part of the EPIPAGE population‐based cohort study, had their psychomotor development assessed with the Brunet‐Lezine scale. Results: The study population had a mean gestational age of 30.1 ± 2.0 weeks. Lower developmental quotients (DQ) were observed in the study group compared to the reference sample (96 ± 13 vs 104 ± 8, p < 0.01). Fine motor function, language and sociability were all affected with a p value <0.01. Multivariate analysis showed that duration of intubation and parents’ educational and occupational levels were the only variables significantly related to each developmental domain (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Children very preterm and free of severe disabilities had mild delays in multiple areas of development. The mechanisms by which neonatal factors played a role need further investigation. However socioeconomic status had a great impact on development and our results underline the need for improved support of socioeconomically disadvantaged parents after a preterm birth.     

Single-centre vs. population-based outcome data of extremely preterm infants at the limits of viability

Aim:  In response to the disappointing outcome data of the population-based EPICure study published in 2000, we compared the outcome of infants 22 0/7 to 25 6/7 weeks of gestational age (GA) in a single tertiary care centre 2000–2004 with that of EPICure.
Methods:  EPICure tools and definitions, including 30 months' Bayley Scales.
Results:  Of 83 infants <26 weeks born alive, more were admitted to intensive care – 82% vs. 68% (p  <  0.0001) – and more infants survived to discharge (57% vs. 26%, p <   0.0001; 69% vs. 39%, p  <  0.01, of those admitted to intensive care). More infants, as a percentage of live births, survived without severe (41%, 34/83 vs. 20%, 233/1185, p <   0.0001) or overall disability (22%, 18/83 vs. 13%, 155/1185, p  =  0.03). However, at the border of viability – GA 23 and 24 weeks – the rate of infants surviving without overall disability was not significantly higher (13%, 6/45 vs. 9%, 56/623).
Conclusion:  In infants <26 weeks of GA, increased rates of survival and survival without disability were observed in a single-centre inborn cohort born 5–8 years later than the EPICure cohort. This did not translate into increased survival without overall disability in infants of 23–24 weeks of GA.     

Evaluation of neurodevelopmental outcome in highrisk infants in Australia

An understanding of the neurodevelopmental outcome of long-term survivors of neonatal intensive care is essential for the informed management of preterm or high risk infants. This annotation looks at the current status of neonatal follow-up services in Australasia and highlights problems in the collection and interpretation of data. It suggests that we should work towards achieving a consensus on standard definitions and test regimes and on national data collection.     

A randomized controlled trial of an early intervention program in low birth weight children: outcome at 2 years

BACKGROUND: Preterm infants are at increased risk of cognitive, motor and behavioral problems. Different intervention programs have been designed in an attempt to improve outcome, but the results are conflicting. OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of an early intervention program on cognitive, motor and behavioral problems and parenting stress among low birth weight children at 2 years corrected age. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted including infants with a birth weight <2000 g treated at the University Hospital of North Norway, to examine the effects of a modified version of the Mother-Infant Transaction Program on cognitive, motor and behavioral outcomes and parenting stress. The children were assessed with the Bayley Scales of Infant Development and the Child Behavior Checklist/2-3 (CBCL) and the Parenting Stress Index were administered to the parents at 2 years corrected age. RESULTS: Sixty-nine children in the intervention group and 67 in the control group were assessed at 2 years. There were no differences between the groups in cognitive or motor outcomes. The intervention group scored consistently lower on all CBCL syndrome scales, but no difference was significant. The mothers in the intervention group reported significantly lower parental stress in both child and parent domain, whereas the fathers reported lower stress in child domain compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: This early intervention program does not improve cognitive, motor or behavioral outcomes at 2 years. There was a significant reduction in parenting stress reported by both mothers and fathers in the intervention group.     

Prediction of asthma in children at 6 and 12 years of age: Perth infant asthma follow-up study

Longitudinal studies, starting in infancy, provide an opportunity to assess risk factors prior to long-term exposure to environmental factors. The status of the infant soon after birth is determined by genetic background and factors related to in utero influences. As a result of recent advances in molecular biology, the genetic component can now be evaluated.     

极/超低出生体重儿生后早期腹部局部组织氧饱和度变化趋势的前瞻性研究

目的 探讨极/超低出生体重儿（very/extremely low birth weight infant,VLBWI/ELBWI）出生后的腹部局部组织氧饱和度（abdominal regional oxygen saturation,A-rSO₂）变化趋势。 方法 选取2019年9月至2021年5月在新生儿重症监护室住院的VLBWI/ELBWI作为研究对象。利用近红外光谱技术,从出生后第1天开始每天监测A-rSO₂,共监测4周。并根据出生胎龄分为较低胎龄组（<29周组）及较高胎龄组（≥29周组）,对两组VLBWI/ELBWI生后4周内的A-rSO₂进行比较分析。 结果 共纳入VLBWI/ELBWI 63例,其中<29周组30例,≥29周组33例。63例VLBWI/ELBWI生后2周内A-rSO₂呈现波动变化：生后第1天为最低值（47.9%）,后逐渐升高,第4天达最高峰（67.4%）,第5~9天逐渐下降,然后再次上升,至出生2周后趋于稳定。≥29周组出生后第1周及第2周A-rSO2均高于<29周组,差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）。出生第3周及第4周两组A-rSO₂均值比较差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。 结论 VLBWI/ELBWI的A-rSO₂在出生后最初2周随日龄增加存在波动变化,2周后趋于稳定;生后2周内的A-rSO₂与胎龄相关。