Neurodevelopmental outcome of very low birth weight (VLBW) children aged 3-5 years old born in 2018 in Tehran, Iran

With progress in medical care, the rate of premature birth has increased and the mortality rate of very low birth weight (VLBW) babies has decreased. However, there is an increased incidence of disabilities in survivors, including neurodevelopmental delay, particularly in infants born very prematurely. This study aimed to assess the neurodevelopment in such children.

This was a cross-sectional study on non-randomized sample of children aged 3 to 5 years with weight less than 1500 grams or the mother's pregnancy lasted in less than 32 weeks in 2018 and born in one of the hospitals in Tehran, Iran. and alive at the study commence. They were evaluated by the Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ) in 5 developmental fields. Data was collected by completing a general questionnaire, the ASQ, and using the hospital records.  The data were analyzed by SPSS-22 software, and statistical tests included descriptive and analytical tests such as chi-square and t-test.

Out of the total number of births, the data for 220 VLBW children were eligible for analysis. Of these, 12 children (5.7%) had at least one developmental disorder in the five investigated fields including:  4.2% of the children had neurological developmental delayed in communication, 2.4% in gross motor, 2.4% in fine motor, 2.8% in problem solving, and 2.8% in the personal-social aspects. There was no significant relationship between gender, length of pregnancy, and parents' education level with children's developmental disorders. There was a significant difference between the rehabilitation status of VLBW children and developmental delay (P<0.001).

The findings suggest that the VLBW children are at higher risk for neurodevelopmental and behavioral disorders. It is recommended that such children undergo physical, neurological, and developmental evaluations at different ages.