Functional abilities at age 4 years of children born before 29 weeks of gestation. Issue 6894 (26th June 1993)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Johnson, A; Townshend, P; Yudkin, P; Bull, D; Wilkinson, A R
• Is Part Of: BMJ. Volume 306:Issue 6894(1993)
• Page Start: 1715
• Page End: 1718
• Publication Date: 1993-06-26
• Subjects: Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine; Periodicals; 610
• DOI: 10.1136/bmj.306.6894.1715
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0007-1447

Abstract

Abstract : OBJECTIVES--To assess the rate of impairment and disability among babies born very preterm and to investigate the association between such impairment and gestational age at birth. DESIGN--Cohort study of a geographically defined population of babies. SETTING--Oxford Regional Health Authority. SUBJECTS--All babies born alive before 29 weeks of gestation to mothers resident in the region during 1984-6. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Survival rates and rates of impairment and disability among survivors at the age of 4 years. RESULTS--Of the 342 babies, half (170) survived to be discharged home. Of the 164 survivors to age 4 years, 153 (93%) were assessed. A total of 35 (23%; 95% confidence interval 16% to 30%) were severely disabled and only 54 (35%; 28% to 43%) were unimpaired. The risk of impairment and disability increased with decreasing gestational age at birth (p < 0.003). CONCLUSIONS--With the increasing survival rate among babies born before 29 weeks of gestation, we need urgently to establish reliable ways of monitoring the proportion of survivors who have a disability.