Neurobehaviour of very preterm infants at term equivalent age is related to early childhood outcomes.

Abstract

To describe neurodevelopmental outcomes during early childhood among infants born very preterm and define the relationships between neurobehaviour of very preterm infants and neurodevelopmental outcomes at 4years. Forty-eight infants born ≤32weeks gestation had neurobehaviour assessed at term equivalent age using the NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale (NNNS). Outcomes at 4years were assessed with the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3), the Sensory Profile-Short Form (SF) and the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Preschool version (BRIEF-P). At 4years, 23 (48%) children had at least one below average score on the ASQ-3, 15 (31%) had a below average total score on the Sensory Profile-SF, and 3 (6%) had an abnormal total score on the BRIEF-P. Children with lower fine motor scores at 4years had poorer orientation (P=0.03) and self-regulation (P=0.03), hypertonia (P=0.01), and more sub-optimal reflexes (P=0.02) as neonates. Children with lower gross motor scores at 4years of age had more sub-optimal reflexes (P=0.03) and lethargy (P=0.046) as neonates. Children with tactile sensitivity at 4years of age had poorer orientation (P=0.01) and tolerance of handling (P=0.03) as neonates. Children with decreased responsiveness at 4years of age had low arousal (P=0.02) as neonates, and those with poor auditory filtering at age 4years had hypotonia (P=0.03) as neonates. Early neurobehaviour is related to neurodevelopmental outcome in early childhood.