Perinatal risk factors for adverse neurodevelopmental outcome after spontaneous preterm birth

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate to what extend perinatal factors contribute to the neurodevelopmental outcome in a group neonates born after spontaneous preterm labour with or without prolonged rupture of the membranes (PROM). Methods: In a cohort of neonates born after the spontaneous onset of labour with or without PROM before 34 weeks of gestation a stepwise forward logistic regression was performed to analyse the influence of antenatal and postnatal variables on adverse outcome. Adverse neurodevelopmental outcome was defined as a Griffith's developmental score < 85, cerebral palsy, a major disability or perinatal death associated with severe cerebral damage. Results: The study group consisted of 185 neonates. Seven neonates died with severe cerebral damage. After a forward logistic regression analysis three factors appeared to have an independent influence: gestational age protected against an adverse outcome (odds ratio (OR) per day increase 0.95, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.90-0.97) while abnormal cranial ultrasound (intraventricular haemorrhage and periventricular leucomalacia) (OR 6.33, 95% CI 2.16-18.52) and the need for a second course of antibiotics (OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.02-3.33) increased the risk for adverse outcome. Comparing the group with a normal neurodevelopmental outcome with those with cerebral palsy, cranial ultrasound abnormalities were independently associated with cerebral palsy (OR 48.75, 95% CI 11.78-201.76). Conclusion: The most important way of preventing neurological damage in infants is to increase gestational age at birth and to avoid the development of intraventricular haemorrhage and periventricular leucomalacia. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.