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Patterns of Physical and Neurologic Development in Preterm Children

Journal of Perinatology volume 22, pages 31–36 (2002)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of medical complications, gestational age, gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status on the changes in anthropometric measures and severity of neurologic impairment from 6 to 54 months of age in premature and term infants.

STUDY DESIGN: This study was a prospective longitudinal study to determine predictors of patterns of growth and neurologic outcome in low-risk (n=137) and high-risk (n=96) preterm infants compared to full-term infants (n=136). Growth modeling analyses were used to evaluate factors that might influence patterns of physical growth and changes in neurologic status.

RESULTS: Medical risk level was a predictor of height and head circumference at 30 months and neurologic outcome. Gender was a predictor of weight gain. Medical risk level and gender predicted 13.8% and 32% of the variance in head circumference and neurologic scores, respectively.

CONCLUSION: Medical complications after birth and gender are stronger influences than gestational age on patterns of growth and neurologic outcome.

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Author notes

  1. Paul R Swank: Statistical consultant.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA

    Brenda H Morris MD, Paul R Swank PhD, Susan E Denson MD & Susan H Landry PhD

  2. University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA

    Karen E Smith PhD

Authors
  1. Brenda H Morris MD
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  2. Karen E Smith PhD
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  3. Paul R Swank PhD
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  4. Susan E Denson MD
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  5. Susan H Landry PhD
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Morris, B., Smith, K., Swank, P. et al. Patterns of Physical and Neurologic Development in Preterm Children. J Perinatol 22, 31–36 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jp.7210590

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