Article

AIM: To study the prevalence of minor neurological dysfunction (MND) at 6 years
of age in a cohort of children born extremely preterm without cerebral palsy (CP)
and to investigate associations with motor function, cognitive abilities, and
behaviour. This study assessed 80 children born at less than 27 weeks of
gestation and 90 children born at term age between 2004 and 2007 at a mean age of
6 years 6 months. The assessments included a simplified version of the Touwen
Infant Neurological Examination, the Movement Assessment Battery for Children,
Second Edition (MABC-2), Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fourth Edition
(WISC-IV), the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), and the parent
version of the Five to Fifteen questionnaire. RESULTS: Fifty-one of the children
born preterm had normal neurology, 23 had simple MND, and six had complex MND
compared with 88 who had normal neurology and two simple MND in the term-born
group (p<0.001). There were significant differences between the children with
normal neurology and MND in the preterm group in MABC-2-assessed motor function
(p<0.001), general cognitive abilities with WISC-IV (p=0.005), and SDQ overall
behavioural problems and peer problems reported by the parents (p=0.021 and
p=0.003 respectively). SDQ teacher-reported overall behavioural and hyperactivity
problems were significantly different between children with normal and simple MND
(p=0.036 and p=0.019). INTERPRETATION: Children born extremely preterm, in the
absence of CP, are at risk of MND and this is associated with motor function,
cognitive ability, and behaviour. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: Extremely preterm birth
carries a risk of minor neurological dysfunction (MND). MND in children born
extremely preterm is associated with impaired motor function and cognitive
abilities, and behavioural problems. Male sex is associated with MND in children
born extremely preterm.
CI - (c) 2018 Mac Keith Press.

Langue : ANGLAIS