Perinatal risk factors associated with neurobehavioral development of full-term small for gestational age newborn infants

Abstract

Objective To explore perinatal risk factors associated with the neurobehavioral development of small for gestational age (SGA) full-term neonates.Methods This prospective cross-sectional study included 111 full-term newborn infants from Apr 2008 to Apr 2010 born in Yan-tai Yuhuangding Hospital.Detailed clinical data in perinatal period of all subjects were recorded.Infants aged 3 ～ 7 days were assessed with neonatal behavioral neurological assessment (NBNA) for neurobehavioral development.Logistic regression analysis was used to explore risk factors associated with the score of NBNA.Results Significant differences (P ＜ 0.05) were found between full-term SGA (10.72 ± 1.41,7.13 ± 0.96,7.32 ± 0.74,37.16 ±1.32) and normal neonates (11.27 ± 1.04,7.89 ± 0.72,7.62 ± 0.64,39.12 ± 0.76) in terms of capacity,active and passive muscle tension and NBNA score.Full-term SGA neonates had lower score than control.Univariate logistic regression showed that delivery,placenta abnormalities,umbilical cord abnormalities,infection in perinatal period,gestational hypertension,twin pregnancy,hyperbilirubinemia affected neurobehavioral development of full-term SGA infants.Multivariate logistic regression showed that mothers' infection in perinatal period (OR =2.175,95 ％ CI 1.981 ～ 2.408,P ＜ 0.05),twin pregnancy (OR =1.936,95％ CI 1.517 ～2.368,P ＜ 0.05) and hyperbilirubinemia (OR =1.518,95％ CI 1.072-2.149,P ＜ 0.05) were risk factors for neurobehavioral delay of full-term SGA infants.Conclusion Full-term SGA neonates showed poorer quality in neurobehavior.Risk factors associated with neurobehavior of full-term SGA infants included mothers' infection in perinatal period,twin pregnancy and hyperbilirubinemia. Key words: Full-term small for gestational age infant; Neurobehavioral development; Neonatal behavioral neurological assessment; Risk factor