Developmental function of very-low-birth-weight infants and full-term infants in early childhood
Journal
Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
Journal Volume
103
Journal Issue
1
Pages
23-31
Date Issued
2004
Author(s)
Tsou K.-I.
Wang A.-H.
Hsu C.-J.
Hsu C.-H.
Tsou K.-S.
Fang L.-J.
Wang M.
Huang S.-H.
Wu C.-S.
Yu S.-Y.
Kou Y.-W.
Mao S.-Y.
Abstract
Background and Purpose: Despite general recognition that surviving very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants are at risk for neurodevelopmental impairments and educational achievement difficulties, there has been relatively little study on their functional status in areas such as locomotion, communication, cognition, self-care, and interpersonal relationships. This study assessed the functional status of VLBW infants and full-term infants in early childhood, and sought to identify risk factors for functional morbidity. Methods: A total of 238 VLBW infants and 91 full-term infants were included in this prospective follow-up study. The functional status of the infants was assessed using the Chinese Child Development Inventory (CCDI) and neurodevelopmental was evaluated using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development, second version (BSID-II) at 3 years of corrected age. Perinatal and sociodemographic data were collected through review of medical records. Results: The VLBW infants had lower scores on all the CCDI measures compared with the full-term infants. Functional limitation (defined as more than 2 standard deviations below the means of the full-term infants) occurred more frequently in the VLBW infants than in the full-term infants: gross motor, 23%; vs 3% fine motor, 12% vs 1%; expressive language, 21% vs 2%; comprehension-conceptual, 23% vs 4%; situation comprehension, 17% vs 4%; self-help, 17% vs 1%; and personal-social, 19% vs 3% (all p < 0.01). Significant risk factors associated with functional morbidity included gestational age < 30 weeks, grade III-IV intraventricular hemorrhage, chronic lung disease, stage III-IV retinopathy of prematurity, male gender, and maternal education below high school. Conclusion: VLBW infants have a higher risk of functional morbidity than their full-term counterparts in early childhood. Infants with functional limitations on CCDI screening might require comprehensive developmental assessment and continued follow-up.
SDGs
Other Subjects
article; brain hemorrhage; child development; chronic lung disease; comprehension; concept formation; controlled study; demography; developmental disorder; disease severity; education; female; follow up; functional assessment; gestational age; high school; human; language ability; male; medical record; morbidity; motor performance; nerve cell differentiation; preschool child; retrolental fibroplasia; risk factor; scoring system; self help; sex difference; social interaction; very low birth weight; comparative study; developmental disorder; newborn; pathophysiology; physiology; prospective study; psychomotor disorder; Developmental Disabilities; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; Male; Prospective Studies; Psychomotor Disorders; Risk Factors
Type
journal article