The outcome of very preterm infants varies widely from centre to centre and from country to country. The aim of this study was to evaluate growth, developmental milestones and post-discharge morbidity of infants born before 32 weeks of gestation in Switzerland. A questionnaire was sent to the parents of 456 survivors born in 1996. A total of 309 (68%) parents responded and their infants were matched with 309 control infants born at term. At the corrected age of 24 months, the very preterm infants had significantly lower weight (-1.0 z-scores), lower length (-1.23 z-scores), and lower head circumference (-.64 z-scores). Very preterm infants were reported to eat with a spoon later than those born at term (50% at 7.5 months corrected for prematurity versus 10 months. P<0.001), to drink later out of a cup (50% at 16.5 months versus 13.5 months, P=0.03) and to walk later independently (50% at 14.5 months versus 13.5 months, P=0.04), whereas timing of sitting unsupported was no different (50% at 7.4 months versus 7.2 months, P=0.9). Of very preterm infants, 16% were not able to walk at least three steps unsupported at 18 months after term which puts them at an increased risk for cerebral palsy. Some 35% of very preterm infants had to be readmitted to hospital during the first 24 months compared with 20% of control infants born at term (P<0.05). There was no difference between very preterm and term infants in respect to episodes of fever > 38.5 degrees C, episodes of coughing > 3 days and treatment with antibiotics.
Conclusion: these data based on a national survey allow to quantify growth retardation, developmental delay and post-discharge health problems within the first 2 years in preterm infants born before 32(0)/7 weeks.