Abstract
Purpose :
To examine the relationships between low birthweight (LBW), gestational age (GA) and subsequent neurodevelopmental outcomes in premature children who were screened for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Recent attention has been focused on potential impact on neurodevelopmental outcomes from ROP treatment, but there is a gap in knowledge as to the baseline outcomes in this population, independent of ROP.
Methods :
Forty children from a population of infants screened for ROP (26 diagnosed; 7 treated) at Oregon Health & Science University (born less than gestational age (GA) of 31 weeks or with a birthweight (BW) less than 1500 grams) were recruited for neurodevelopmental testing. The mean ± standard deviation (SD) BW was 1000.0 ± 355.7 grams and mean ± SD GA was 27.8 ± 2.3 weeks. Mean ± SD age was 6.0 years ± 1.1 years (range 4 – 7.6) at time of testing. The Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI-IV) performance-based assessment was used to provide Scale IQ (FSIQ), Verbal Comprehension (VCI) and Visual-Spatial (VSI) composite scores. Global Executive Composite (GEC) scores were assessed by having parents complete either the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function for preschool children <5 years (BRIEF-P) or the BRIEF-2 for children >5 years. The Vineland-3 Domain-Level Parent/Caregiver Form provided motor skills scores (MOT). Univariate and multivariate linear regression was used to investigate whether there were correlations between BW, GA, or BW and GA and FSIQ, VCI, VSI, GEC, and MOT. Interactions between BW and GA were accounted for.
Results :
In this cohort, LBW was a significant predictor of FSIQ (R2: 0.38), VCI (R2: 0.24), VSI (R2: 0.26) and MOT (R2: 0.41). GA was a significant predictor of FSIQ (R2: 0.17), VSI (R2: 0.13), GEC (R2: 0.15) and MOT (R2: 0.31). Together, BW and GA (and their interaction) were significant predictors of VSI (R2: 0.38).
Conclusions :
BW and GA have significant correlations with neurodevelopmental outcomes. Studies that evaluate neurodevelopmental outcomes as a result of ROP treatment need to account for potential confounding by prematurity, and other comorbidities of premature birth.
This abstract was presented at the 2022 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Denver, CO, May 1-4, 2022, and virtually.