Neurodevelopmental and cognitive assessment of 6-year-old children born growth restricted

Abstract

This prospective study assesses whether hypertensive disorder during pregnancy had any effect on long-term neurodevelopmental and intellectual outcome of 6-year-old children born with severe growth restriction (FGR). Infants born with a birth weight <5th percentile were included. Infants with congenital malformations or in utero infection were excluded. Each infant had a neonatal neurological examination and at 6 years. Each neurological parameter was given an optimal or a suboptimal score. The final score was expressed as percent of optimal items out of total number of items in the questionnaire. At age of 6 they underwent the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI) (IQ test). Neonatal complications were determined by neonatal risk questionnaire which was performed at discharge. This questionnaire included 13 neonatal risk parameters. More than three suboptimal items were defined as having neonatal complications. (excerpt)