Growth and neurodevelopmental outcome of VLBW infants at 1 year corrected age.

Objective: To evaluate growth and neurodevelopmental outcome of very low birth weight infants (VLBW) and compare with term normal birth weight infants (NBW) till 12 months corrected age.

Methods: A prospective cohort study. Methods: Tertiary care neonatal unit in northern India. Methods: 37 VLBW infants and 35 NBW infants born between January 2007 and December 2007. Methods: Anthropometric measurements were recorded and Z-scores were computed serially at birth, discharge, 40 weeks post menstrual age (PMA), and at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months of corrected age. Developmental quotient (DQ) at 12 months corrected age was assessed.

Results: Z-scores for weight, length and head circumference (HC) at birth were -1.21(±0.92), -0.98(±1.32) and -0.70(±1.14), respectively for VLBW infants and -0.37(±0.72), -0.11(±0.96) and 0.05(±0.73) respectively for NBW infants. VLBW infants had a significant drop in all Z-scores by discharge (P<0.001). There was a catch up to birth scores by 12 month age. VLBW infants had significantly lower Z-scores for weight, length and HC at one year corrected age as compared to NBW infants (P =0.01, 0.04 and 0.001, respectively). DQ at 12 months was significantly lower in VLBW infants (91.5+7.8) than NBW infants (97.5±5.3) (P <0.001). DQ of small for gestational age (SGA) and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) VLBW infants was comparable.

Conclusions: VLBW infants falter in their growth during NICU stay with a catch-up later during infancy. In comparison to NBW infants, they continue to lag in their physical growth and neurodevelopment at 1 year of corrected age.