GROWTH, NEURODEVELOPMENT IN EXTREMELY LOWBIRTH BABIES AT TWO YEAR OF CORRECTED AGE

Abstract

According to national neonatal perinatal data (NNPD) the survival of ELBW babies has improved from 37% in 2000 to 45% in 2002-3 reports. In our neonatal unit in PGIMER the survival of ELBW babies has been 54-56% in last 5 years, however unfortunately there is very scanty reports of long term outcome of ELBW babies from India. There is very scanty report of long term growth outcome of VLBW and ELBW Babies in our country, we reported VLBW and ELBW babies in our follow up had poor catch up growth, though some catch-up was observed at 6 month but subsequent lag in growth probably reflects poor weaning at 1 year.  Infants with extremely low birth weights (ELBWs) are more susceptible to all of the possible complications of premature birth, both in the immediate neonatal period and after discharge from the nursery. These babies are at risk of poor growth and developmental. in the present study a total of 39 cases of ELBW Babies were enrolled during one year study period from July 2011- June2012 attending the neonatal follow up clinic attained 2year±3month of corrected age. Their detail birth data and postnatal illnesses retrieved from their initial hospital files and unit discharge record. A similar number of babies enrolled at 2yrs±3months of age in the control group. In the presence study, we assessed the growth, and neurological out come in extremely low birth baby attained 2yrs±3 months of corrected age. The study population consisted of 39 children of ELBW baby born during 2009 -10 at PGIMER & same number of normal birth weight children at 2yr±3 months of corrected age who satisfied the inclusion and exclusion criteria. These children were enrolled from neonatal follow up clinic who were already undergoing long term follow up. For growth outcome, we used weight, height & head circumference measurement of child, for neurological and developmental outcome used clinical neurological examination and DP-III .Base line demographic characteristics of our ELBW babies (Cases) where as follows.   Mean (S.D) gestational age of  ELBW babies was 29.87±2.3 week. Mean (S.D) birth weight 867±71.1 grams, Mean (S.D) lenght35±2.1cm & head circumference was 25.76±1.9 cm. Mean hospital stay in the ELBW babies was 48.6±19.9 days. Mean birth weight and gestational age of control group where 2684±166.2grm and 39.03±0.9 weeks. At 2year of corrected age we found  - Weight was similar in both in case group & control group. (10.04±1.4 Vs 10.75±1.1). Height and head circumference were smaller in cases than control group. (81.4±4.3 Vs 84.4±3.3 and 45.9±1.6 Vs 46.8±1.5. 5% Babies had cerebral palsy in case group (N=2/39) and none in control group. Gross development score(GDS) in Development profile-III in both study group (cases & controls) was  similar  (72.49±8.08 Vs 73.54±9.3,p=0.596). Significant difference in domains physical (84.5±7.8 Vs.90±3.5, p=0.000) and domains adaptive (81±6.7 Vs. 85.3±5.4,p= 0.003) in cases as compared to controls. There was no difference between SGA and AGA among cases in growth and neurological development. There was no difference between male and female in case group in any parameter .There is very scanty data from our country on longterm follow up of ELBW babies. Our data shows that our ELBW cohort remained small in height and had smaller head circumference though weight was similar as compared to normal control babies.

 Key words: ELBW, VLBW, birth weight, neurological examination.