Intraoperative Airway Emergencies

Abstract

The contribution of growth parameters to the cognitive outcome of very low birth weight (VLBW)/very preterm (VP) infants is difficult to disentangle from other preterm-birth related factors.We hypothesized that long-term cognitive and motor outcome of VLBW/VP infants is most strongly associated with growth in head circumference after hospital discharge.Single-centre prospective longitudinal study: anthropometric measures at different time points (birth, discharge, school-age).136 VLBW/VP infants (< 32 weeks gestation/birth weight < 1.500 g).Cognitive and motor function (Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children; Movement Assessment Battery for Children) at school-age (6.7–10.0 years, mean = 8.2).In hierarchical multiple regression analyses, growth from birth to discharge significantly predicted cognitive outcome (weight: R2change = 0.063, p = 0.014; length: R2change = 0.078, p = 0.007; HC: R2change = 0.050, p = 0.030), as well as weight gain (R2change = 0.096, p = 0.001) and head growth (R2change = 0.134, p < 0.001) from discharge to school-age. While most growth parameters, especially those from birth to discharge, were significantly influenced by prenatal growth and immaturity related morbidity (R2 = 0.151 to 0.605, all p ≤ 0.001), head growth after discharge was not (R2 = 0.029, p = 0.461).Amongst all anthropometric measures, head growth between discharge and school-age is the best independent predictor for cognitive outcome in VLBW/VP infants. Determinants of head growth after discharge need further studies to identify targets for intervention.