Predictive models of early motor development in preterm infants: a longitudinal-prospective study

Abstract

Introduction: Preterm infants are vulnerable to developmental delays. Detecting problems at an early age is one of the challenges of professionals and researchers in the area.Objectives: To analyse the motor development and to identify the risk factors associated with predictors of overall and motor delay in preterm newborns.Methods: Eighty preterm infants (50% female; mean gestational age = 33 ± 2.2 weeks) with low birth weight (average of 1,715 ± 437 g) were evaluated using the Neurobehavioral Assessment of the Preterm Infant (NAPI) during the neonatal phase (prior to term age), the Denver Developmental Screening Test II (DDST-II) between 2 and 8 months, the Test of Infant Motor Performance between 2 and 4 months regarding motor development and the Alberta Infant Motor Scale between 4 and 8 months. Results: Neurobehavioural delay was noted in 24% of the infants in the neonatal phase. Between 2 and 8 months, the delay in overall development was ≥ 31% and the delay in motor development was 35–36 %. Decreased levels of alertness, orientation, motor developmentand vigouraccording to theNAPIwereshown to be predictive of a delay indevelopment between4 and 6 months of age.The delayin overall development between 2 and 6 months was predictive of a delay in motor development between6 and 8months. Conclusion: Neurobehavioural variables, hospital stayandoverall delayare goodpredictorsof motor developmentduring the first yearof age.