Neurodevelopmental outcomes of premature infants at a tertiary care center in Pakistan
Document Type
Article
Department
Paediatrics and Child Health
Abstract
The low gestational ages and morbidities of premature neonates in neonatal intensive care units exert a significant impact on neurodevelopmental outcomes. This longitudinal cohort study assessed the neurodevelopmental status of premature neonates after discharge from neonatal intensive care units in resource-limited countries such as Pakistan. Developmental assessment involved the Denver Development Screening Test II. One hundred and ten infants discharged from our neonatal intensive care unit completed follow-up at age 6 months. Overall developmental delay was evident in 32% of infants. Birth weight and gestational age exerted significant impacts on development. The mean gestational age of developmentally normal infants was 34 weeks, whereas that of delayed infants was 30.7 weeks (P < 0.01). The mean birth weight of developmentally normal infants was 2.17 kg vs 1.27 kg in delayed infants (P < 0.01). Neonates who developed complications such as respiratory distress syndrome, intraventricular hemorrhage, thrombocytopenia, hypoglycemia, hyponatremia, or hypothermia in neonatal intensive care units proved to be delayed at age 6 months (P < 0.05). Prematurity and its associated complications are linked to adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Publication (Name of Journal)
Pediatric Neurology
Recommended Citation
Khan, M.,
Maheshwari, P.,
Shamim, H.,
Saleem, A.,
Ahmed, S.,
Ali, S.,
Ibrahim, S.
(2012). Neurodevelopmental outcomes of premature infants at a tertiary care center in Pakistan. Pediatric Neurology, 47(2), 109-13.
Available at:
https://ecommons.aku.edu/pakistan_fhs_mc_women_childhealth_paediatr/110