Muscle power development during the first year of life predicts neuromotor behaviour at 7 years in children born as high-risk preterm infants
J. Samsom, L. de Groot.
Department of Paediatrics,
VU University Medical Centre,
De Boelelaan 1117,
1081 HV Amsterdam,
The Netherlands
Objective
The aim was to find if neonatal factors and follow-up during the first year of life could predict neuromotor behaviour at 7 years of age in children born as high-risk preterm infants.
Patients and Method
High-risk was assigned as gestational age (GA) < 32 weeks and/or birthweight (BW) < 1500 g, and categorized according to the medical history in the three highest categories of the Neonatal Medical Index (NMI). Follow-up was performed in 52 children (mean GA: 29 6/7 weeks, mean BW: 1357g). At all ages a full neurological examination was performed, with at 3 and 6 months special emphasis on the relationship between active and passive muscle power and asymmetry and at 12 months on the assessment of postural control, hand function, motility, elicited reactions and asymmetry. At 7 years, the neuromotor behaviour was tested with Touwen’s examination of minor neurological dysfunction. Stepwise linear regression was used to find the best predictors on perinatal factors and follow-up during the first year for outcome at 7 years.
Results
The combination of the NMI and gender could predict neuromotor behaviour at 7 years of age during the neonatal period. However the best predictors were the outcome of muscle power in shoulders and legs at 3 months and postural control at 12 months, taken account of the gender of the child (sensitivity: 95%).
Conclusion
The described method of follow-up was very sensitive to predict neuromotor behaviour at 7 years of age in high-risk preterm infants.
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