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Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2003;88:F29-F35 doi:10.1136/fn.88.1.F29
  • Original article

A national two year follow up study of extremely low birthweight infants born in 1996–1997

  1. V Tommiska1,
  2. K Heinonen2,
  3. P Kero3,
  4. M-L Pokela4,
  5. O Tammela5,
  6. A-L Järvenpää1,
  7. T Salokorpi1,
  8. M Virtanen6,
  9. V Fellman1
  1. 1Hospital for Children and Adolescents, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
  2. 2Department of Paediatrics, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland
  3. 3Department of Paediatrics, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
  4. 4Department of Paediatrics, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
  5. 5Department of Paediatrics, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland
  6. 6The National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health, Helsinki
  1. Correspondence to:
    Dr Fellman, Hospital for Children and Adolescents, University of Helsinki, Stenbäckinkatu 11, 000290 Helsinki, Finland;
    Vineta.Fellman{at}hus.fi
  • Accepted 22 May 2002

Abstract

Objective: To study neurodevelopmental outcome in a two year cohort of extremely low birthweight (ELBW) infants at 18 months corrected age, to compare the development of the ELBW infant subcohort with that of control children, and to find risk factors associated with unfavourable outcome.

Study design: All 211 surviving ELBW infants (birth weight < 1000 g) born in Finland in 1996–1997 were included in a national survey. The ELBW infants (n = 78) who were born and followed in Helsinki University Hospital belonged to a regional subcohort and were compared with a control group of 75 full term infants. A national follow up programme included neurological, speech, vision, and hearing assessments at 18 months of corrected age. Bayley infant scale assessment was performed on the subcohort and their controls at 24 months of age. Risk factors for unfavourable outcome were estimated using logistic and linear regression models.

Results: The prevalence of cerebral palsy was 11%, of all motor impairments 24%, of ophthalmic abnormalities 23%, and of speech delay 42%. No impairment was found in 42% of children, and 18% were classified as severely impaired. The prevalence of ophthalmic abnormalities decreased with increasing birth weight and gestational age, but the prevalence of other impairments did not. In the subcohort, a positive correlation was found between the date of birth and Bayley scores.

Conclusion: Ophthalmic abnormalities decreased with increasing birth weight and gestational age, but no other outcome differences were found between birthweight groups or in surviving ELBW infants born at 22–26 weeks gestation. The prognosis in the regional subcohort seemed to improve during the short study period, but this needs to be confirmed.

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