Usefulness of an early neurofunctional assessment in predicting neurodevelopmental outcome in very low birthweight infants. Issue 2 (21st February 2006)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Picciolini, O; Giannì, M L; Vegni, C; Fumagalli, M; Mosca, F
• Is Part Of: Archives of disease in childhood. Volume 91:Issue 2(2006)
• Page Start: F111
• Page End: F117
• Publication Date: 2006-02-21
• Subjects: AGA, appropriate size for gestational age -- SGA, small for gestational age -- VLBW, very low birth weight; neurofunctional assessment -- neurodevelopmental outcome -- very low birthweight infants; Infants -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Newborn infants -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Fetus -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 618.920105
• DOI: 10.1136/adc.2005.073262
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-2998

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: To evaluate whether early neurofunctional assessment may be useful in predicting neurodevelopmental outcome in children of very low birth weight (VLBW). Design: Observational longitudinal study. Settings: Northern Italy. Patients: A total of 250 VLBW children (129 boys, 121 girls) born consecutively 1996–1999. Main outcome measures: Neurodevelopment at 36 months of chronological age, classified in accordance with the classification of Tardieu and the International classification of functioning . Results: Of the infants exhibiting normal neurodevelopment (n = 183) or major dysfunction (n = 17) at 3 months of corrected age, 72% and 94% respectively did not change their score during the study. Minor dysfunctions at 3 months of corrected age were transient in 17 (34%) children. After adjustment for neonatal variables, neurodevelopment at 3 months of corrected age remained predictive of dysfunction at 36 months (odds ratio = 4.33, 95% confidence interval 2.05 to 9.12). If the results for the normal and minor dysfunction groups were pooled, the predictive qualities of the 3 month neurofunctional assessment were: sensitivity 0.5, specificity 0.99, positive predictive value 0.94, negative predictive value 0.93. Conclusion: Early neurofunctional evaluation may be useful in predicting later neurodevelopmental outcome in VLBW children.