Neurodevelopmental outcomes of very low birth weight preterms in preschool childhood: a prospective cohort study
Abstract Background Preterm birth is a risk factor for a child’s neurological development. Preterm children have unusual neurodevelopmental profiles with executive, visual-motor functions, fine and gross motor skills, language and behavior that affect learning. In this study, we analyzed the neurode...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Italian Journal of Pediatrics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13052-023-01467-y |
| _version_ | 1797827461344395264 |
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| author | Nadia Battajon Chiara Bechini Federica De Osti Anna Galletti Anna Chiara Frigo Paola Lago |
| author_facet | Nadia Battajon Chiara Bechini Federica De Osti Anna Galletti Anna Chiara Frigo Paola Lago |
| author_sort | Nadia Battajon |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Preterm birth is a risk factor for a child’s neurological development. Preterm children have unusual neurodevelopmental profiles with executive, visual-motor functions, fine and gross motor skills, language and behavior that affect learning. In this study, we analyzed the neurodevelopmental outcomes of a cohort of very low birth weight infants admitted to the Treviso Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) between 2014 and 2016 and followed up to preschool childhood. Method This is a prospective cohort study. Infants were followed at birth and after NICU discharge at two- and four-year follow-ups. The two-year assessment was conducted with Bayley III, and at four years with the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence - III scales and Movement Assessment Battery for Children − 2. Results The cohort consisted of 207 subjects with a mean gestational age of 28.9 weeks, and a mean birth weight of 1097.2 g. At two years of age, children without disabilities were 90 (59.6%), those with minor disabilities 47 (31.1%), and those with major disabilities 14 (9.3%); at four years, 58.4% of children without previous disabilities, presented problems with verbal tests and manual dexterity: aiming, grasping and balance at movement assessment. There was significant alteration in processing speed (p < 0.001). Furthermore, there was a strong correlation between processing speed and manual dexterity (p < 0.001) and between processing speed and aiming and grasping (p = 0.0059). Conclusions We found that more than half the children free of disability at two years, at four years had deficit often involving the oculo-motor coordination and processing speed. These motor profile alterations limit the expression of cognitive abilities and the achievement of expected school performance, thus resulting in behavioral disorders, typical of preterm children. Early professional follow-up could improve the expected educational outcomes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T12:48:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b52bc763d9b84107b740ad93ceb0bf9e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1824-7288 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T12:48:41Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Italian Journal of Pediatrics |
| spelling | doaj.art-b52bc763d9b84107b740ad93ceb0bf9e2023-05-14T11:23:06ZengBMCItalian Journal of Pediatrics1824-72882023-05-014911910.1186/s13052-023-01467-yNeurodevelopmental outcomes of very low birth weight preterms in preschool childhood: a prospective cohort studyNadia Battajon0Chiara Bechini1Federica De Osti2Anna Galletti3Anna Chiara Frigo4Paola Lago5Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and High-Risk Follow up program, Cà Foncello Regional HospitalNeonatal Intensive Care Unit and High-Risk Follow up program, Cà Foncello Regional HospitalNeonatal Intensive Care Unit and High-Risk Follow up program, Cà Foncello Regional HospitalNeonatal Intensive Care Unit and High-Risk Follow up program, Cà Foncello Regional HospitalDepartment of Cardiac-Thoracic-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of PaduaNeonatal Intensive Care Unit and High-Risk Follow up program, Cà Foncello Regional HospitalAbstract Background Preterm birth is a risk factor for a child’s neurological development. Preterm children have unusual neurodevelopmental profiles with executive, visual-motor functions, fine and gross motor skills, language and behavior that affect learning. In this study, we analyzed the neurodevelopmental outcomes of a cohort of very low birth weight infants admitted to the Treviso Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) between 2014 and 2016 and followed up to preschool childhood. Method This is a prospective cohort study. Infants were followed at birth and after NICU discharge at two- and four-year follow-ups. The two-year assessment was conducted with Bayley III, and at four years with the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence - III scales and Movement Assessment Battery for Children − 2. Results The cohort consisted of 207 subjects with a mean gestational age of 28.9 weeks, and a mean birth weight of 1097.2 g. At two years of age, children without disabilities were 90 (59.6%), those with minor disabilities 47 (31.1%), and those with major disabilities 14 (9.3%); at four years, 58.4% of children without previous disabilities, presented problems with verbal tests and manual dexterity: aiming, grasping and balance at movement assessment. There was significant alteration in processing speed (p < 0.001). Furthermore, there was a strong correlation between processing speed and manual dexterity (p < 0.001) and between processing speed and aiming and grasping (p = 0.0059). Conclusions We found that more than half the children free of disability at two years, at four years had deficit often involving the oculo-motor coordination and processing speed. These motor profile alterations limit the expression of cognitive abilities and the achievement of expected school performance, thus resulting in behavioral disorders, typical of preterm children. Early professional follow-up could improve the expected educational outcomes.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13052-023-01467-yNeurological developmentNeurodevelopmental assessmentDisabilityVery low birth weight |
| spellingShingle | Nadia Battajon Chiara Bechini Federica De Osti Anna Galletti Anna Chiara Frigo Paola Lago Neurodevelopmental outcomes of very low birth weight preterms in preschool childhood: a prospective cohort study Italian Journal of Pediatrics Neurological development Neurodevelopmental assessment Disability Very low birth weight |
| title | Neurodevelopmental outcomes of very low birth weight preterms in preschool childhood: a prospective cohort study |
| title_full | Neurodevelopmental outcomes of very low birth weight preterms in preschool childhood: a prospective cohort study |
| title_fullStr | Neurodevelopmental outcomes of very low birth weight preterms in preschool childhood: a prospective cohort study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Neurodevelopmental outcomes of very low birth weight preterms in preschool childhood: a prospective cohort study |
| title_short | Neurodevelopmental outcomes of very low birth weight preterms in preschool childhood: a prospective cohort study |
| title_sort | neurodevelopmental outcomes of very low birth weight preterms in preschool childhood a prospective cohort study |
| topic | Neurological development Neurodevelopmental assessment Disability Very low birth weight |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13052-023-01467-y |
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