Infants with Birth Weight 1,000-1,499 Grams Born in Three Time Periods: Has Outcome Changed Over Time?

Abstract

The objective of this study was to see whether outcome of infants of larger birth weight (1,000-1,499 grams) has changed with advances in neonatology. The outcome of infants born in a recent time period (1989-1991) was compared with that of infants born previously, in 1984-1986 and 1979-1981. Univariate analyses were conducted on the association of medical risk factors and date of birth with outcome. More than 90% of infants in each time period were neurologically normal and more than 80% were cognitively normal. Predictor variables were intracranial hemorrhage for poor neurologic outcome and days on oxygen for poor cognitive outcome. We found that neurodevelopmental outcome was stable over three time periods.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

1. Horbar JD , Wright EC , Onstad L , et al. Decreasing mortality associated with the introduction of surfactant therapy: an observational study of neonates weighing 601 to 1,300 grams at birth. Pediatrics. 1993;92:191-196.

2. Schwartz RM , Luby AM , Scanlon JW , et al. Effect of surfactant on morbidity, mortality and resource use in newborn infants weighing 500 to 1,500 g. N Engl J Med. 1994;330:1476-1480.

3. Hack M , Fanaroff AA , Merkatz IR . Current concepts: the low-birthweight infant-evolution of a changing outlook. N Engl J Med. 1979; 301:1162-1165.

4. Teberg A , Hodgman JE , Wu PY , et al. Recent improvement in outcome for the small premature infant: follow-up of infants with a birth weight of less than 1,500 grams. Clin Pediatr. 1977;16:307-313.

5. Leonard CH , Clyman RI , Piecuch RE , et al. Effect of medical and social risk factors on outcome of prematurity and very low birth weight. J Pediatr. 1990;116:620-626.

6. Papile LA , Burstein J , Burstein R , et al. Incidence and evolution of subependymal and intraventricular hemorrhage: a study of infants with birth weights less than 1,500 grams. J Pediatr. 1978;93:529-534.

7. Howell DC . Statistical Methods for Psychology. 3rd ed. Boston: Kent Publishing Co; 1977:315-316.

8. Cohen J . Statistical PowerAnalysisfor the Behavioral Sciences. 2nd ed. Hillsdale: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates; 1988:87-87.

9. Lubchenco LO , Delivoria-Papadopoulos M , Butterfield LJ , et al. Longterm follow-up studies of prematurely born infants. I. Relationship of handicaps to nursery routines. J Pediatr. 1972;80:501-508.

10.

10. Drillien CM . Abnormal neurologic signs in the first year of life in lowbirthweight infants: possible prognostic significance. Dev Med Child Neurol. 1972;14:575-584.

11.

11. Liggins GC , Howie RN . A controlled trial of antepartum glucocorticoid treatment for prevention of the respiratory distress syndrome in premature infants. Pediatrics. 1972;50:515-525.

12.

12. Ballard R , Leonard C , Piecuch R , et al. Long-term outcome after prenatal glucocorticoid therapy. J Calif Perinatal Assn. 1983;3:31-24.

13.

13. Greather JK , Cummins SK , Nelson KB . The California Cerebral Palsy Project. Pediatr Perinatal Epidemiol. 1992;6:339-351.