Am J Perinatol 2024; 41(05): 561-568
DOI: 10.1055/a-1733-2690
Original Article

Neurodevelopmental Outcomes following Preterm Birth and the Association with Postmenstrual Age at Discharge

Polly Kellner
1   Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
,
Jenny Kwon
1   Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
2   Program in Occupational Therapy, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri
,
Joan Smith
3   Department of Quality, Safety, and Practice Excellence, St. Louis Children's Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri
,
1   Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
2   Program in Occupational Therapy, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri
4   Department of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California
5   Gehr Family Center for Health Systems Science and Innovation, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
6   Center for the Changing Family, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
› Institutsangaben
Funding Research reported in this publication was supported by the Washington University Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences grant UL1TR002345 from the National Center for Advancing Translational Institute of Health and the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center at Washington University (NIH/National Institute of Child Health and Human Development P30 HD062171).

Abstract

Objective This study aimed to (1) define the prevalence of motor, cognitive, and language delays in preterm infants born <32 weeks estimated gestational age (EGA); and (2) identify the relationship between the timing of discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and neurodevelopmental outcome in early childhood.

Study Design This retrospective study of 172 preterm infants born <32 weeks EGA and hospitalized in a level-IV NICU captured medical factors, including timing of discharge, from the NICU stay. Standardized developmental testing at 1 to 2 years corrected age was conducted in the newborn follow-up clinic.

Results At 1 to 2 years corrected age, the sample had an average Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (Bayley-III) cognitive composite score of 91.5 ± 17.4, language composite score of 84.5 ± 17.3, and motor composite score of 88.9 ± 18.4. Lower EGA at birth, necrotizing enterocolitis, patent ductus arteriosus, and oxygen requirement for >28 days were independently associated with higher postmenstrual age (PMA) at NICU discharge. Higher PMA at discharge was associated with poorer cognitive outcome [p < 0.001, β = −1.1 (−1.6, −0.7)], poorer language outcome [p = 0.049, β = −0.5 (−0.9, −0.003)], and poorer motor outcome [p <0.001, β = −1.0 (−1.5, −0.5)]. For every additional week of hospitalization, scores were an average of 1.1 points lower in cognitive, 1.0 point lower in motor, and 0.5 points lower in language domains of the Bayley-III assessment.

Conclusion Poorer cognitive, language, and motor outcomes were associated with longer hospitalization, even after controlling for medical risk factors known to be associated with poorer outcome. This provides further evidence for the potential role of the environment in impacting developmental outcomes of infants hospitalized in the NICU.

Key Points

  • There are high rates of developmental impairment among preterm infants born <32 weeks at 1 year to 2 years.

  • The longer the infant is exposed to the NICU environment, the higher the risk of neurodevelopmental challenges.

  • These findings provide increased motivation for optimizing the early NICU environment.



Publikationsverlauf

Eingereicht: 22. Oktober 2021

Angenommen: 03. Januar 2022

Accepted Manuscript online:
07. Januar 2022

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
21. Februar 2022

© 2022. Thieme. All rights reserved.

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