THE DEVELOPMENT OF PREMATURELY BORN CHILDREN WITH BIRTH WEIGHTS OR MINIMAL POSTNATAL WEIGHTS OF 1,000 GRAMS OR LESS

Abstract

Seventy-three children, prematurely born, with birth or minimum weights of 1,000 gm or less, of 116 discharged alive from the Premature Nursery of the New York Hospital from 1940 through 1952, were examined between 1950 and 1957. Historic and social data, and findings on physical and psychometric examinations were evaluated. With rare exceptions, physical health was good, with a marked paucity of neurologic defects. They exhibited a tendency to catch up in height to normal standards for chronologic age, but often not until after 4 years of age. The incidence of eye defects, especially strabismus and myopia, was high. Intelligence quotients showed a wide range (59 to 142); the average I.Q., 94, was significantly below the I.Q. of 107 found in 34 full-term sibling controls. Twelve of the seventy-three prematurely born children had I.Q.'s below 80; among the 43 of similar birth weight but not available for examination, 19 were known to be mentally retarded and 5 of these were in institutions. A number of variables, including birth weight, sex, race, and socio-economic status, were analyzed to see whether they bore any relationship to the outcome in terms of I.Q. A significantly higher proportion of the children with I.Q.'s above 100 was found among families of higher socio-economic rating. A suggestive advantage of girls over boys and of white over non-white patients was noted, though the latter is probably secondary to socio-economic factors. A very high incidence of serious maternal complications existed and might well have influenced the outcome, but within the group no relationship was found between lower I.Q. and complications of pregnancy and delivery, with the possible exception of toxemia and cesarean section. There was no greater incidence of low I.Q. in patients with visual handicaps than in the total group.