A Study On The Neurodevelopmental Outcome Of Preterm Infants Discharged From NICU And The Influencing Factors For Neurodevelopmental Outcome

Objectives To investigate the neurodevelopmental outcome of preterm infants who were discharged from neonatal intensive care unit(NICU) and the impact factors contributing to the neurodevelopmental outcome. The purpose of this study is to find the high risk factors on prognosis of preterm infants and take them as the objective foundation of carrying out early intervention.Methods 140 preterm infants who accepted treatment in our department from Jan.2007 to Jan.2008 were followed up and analyzed retrospectively at six months to a year and a half in the study.Their clinical data and prenatal data were integrated. The infants received the infant development test of 0-6year-old children Intelligence Developmental Scale for neurological development.The neurodevelopmental outcome was evaluated based on Developmental quotient (DQ). DQ>85 was defined as normal, DQ between 70 and 85 as critical and DQ<70 as abnormal.Meanwhile their DQ and influencing factors were researched.Social-domestic and clinical factors related to neurological development were analyzed by Independent-samples T Test or Chi-square Test.Potential high risk factors were analyzed with Logistic regression.and stepwise regression analysis.The data were arranged and analyzed with SPSS 11.5.Results This study consisted of 140 preterm infants, with a mean gestational age of 34.4±1.8 weeks and a mean birth weight of 2198.7±538.8g.Normal,critical and abnormal neurological development occurred in 75 cases(53.6%),56 cases(40.0%) and 9 cases(6.4%) respectively. At the same time the targets of physical growth Including body mass, height, head circumference were related to DQ.Logistic regression showed birth weight ,the economic input which parents gave to their children and education level of father were related to DQ scores. Perinatal asphyxia,head circumference, the degree of importance attached to children,hypoxicischemic encephalopathy(HIE) and education level of father were risk factors for adverse neurodevelopmental outcome.Conclusions Preterm infants discharged from NICU are a high risk group of neurodevelopmental disablement,it is closely related to the perinatal high risk factors, which causes nervous system lesions.The degree of importance attached to children and education level of father are also important.First of all,health care should be strengthened during pregnancy pregnancy.At the same time proper adequate nutrition and early education are recommended.Secondly,parents should pay attention to neurodevelopmental outcome of preterm infants,establish a good doctor-patient relationship with doctor and assess the neurodevelopmental outcome regularlly,for early rehabilitation and improve long-term quality of life of perterm infants at high risk.