Growth and Neurodevelopmental Outcome of VLBW Infants at 1 Year Corrected Age

Objectives: 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. Design: A prospective cohort study Setting: Tertiary care neonatal unit in northern India Subjects: 37 VLBW infants and 35 NBW infants born between January 2007 and December 2007. Interventions: 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 (DO) 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). DO 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. Conclusion: 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.