P2C202: Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Outcome of Very Low-birth-weight Babies: Insights from a Tertiary Care Hospital in Eastern India

Background: The survival of preterm babies has increased worldwide, with a concomitant decrease in severe neonatal morbidity. However, the risk of neurodevelopmental and behavioral disabilities remains high in children and adults who are born preterm. The aims of our study were to perform neurodevelopmental and behavioral screening of the very low birth weight (VLBW) babies at 2 years corrected age and to find out correlation (if any) between risk factors like sepsis, jaundice, hypoglycemia, low Apgar score at 5min and intrauterine growth with neurodevelopmental abnormalities.

Methods: This hospital-based prospective observational study was carried out at the District Early Intervention Centre (DEIC) of our institute. Study period was from 1st October, 2020 to 30th September, 2022. 145 Babies (with birth weight of ≤1500gm and ≤ 34 weeks gestation) were enrolled in the study in the first 6 months of the study period. Attrition rate was 16.5%. We could follow up 110 babies at 1, 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months
of corrected gestational age. Developmental screening was done by Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST II) and Preschool behavioral checklist (PBCL) was used for behavioral screening.

Results: At 24 months corrected age, 74.5% VLBW infants had normal neurodevelopment and 25.5% showed neurodevelopmental abnormalities. 21.8% VLBW infants had muscle tone abnormality; 14.5% were suspect in gross motor development, 9.1% were suspect in fine motor, 10.9% were suspect in personal-social and 8.2% were suspect in language development. Positive correlation between risk factors like sepsis, hypoglycemia, low Apgar score at 5min and intrauterine growth with neurodevelopmental abnormalities was found. High PBCL score (mean 17.2 ±5.5) was seen in 82% VLBW infants.

Conclusion: Due to high risk of neurodevelopmental and behavioral abnormalities, VLBW babies should undergo proper and timely follow up to detect neurodevelopmental abnormalities at earliest and take necessary ‘early intervention/s', so that they can live a favorable life in future.