A follow-up study on physical growth and neurodevelopment of different gestation preterm infants

Objective To investigate the physical growth and neurodevelopment status of the preterm infants of different gestation with the first year. Method A total of 146 preterm infants were divided into early preterm infants (less than 32 weeks) group (65 cases) and moderate and late preterm infants (more than or equal to 32 weeks) group (81 cases), and followed up regularly. The preterm infants were follow up at the following correction months: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10 and 12.The physical growth levels of children were evaluated by WHO 2006 standard. Z scores of length for age (LAZ), weight for age (WAZ), weight for length (WLZ) and head circumference (HCZ) of the preterm infants were calculated. CDCC infant development scale was used to evaluate their neurodevelopment at age 6 and 12 correction months, the results was indicated as mental development index (MDI) and psychomotor development index (PDI).Results The sexual ratio and birth weight had significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05).The LAZ at 6 and 12 correction months in early preterm infants were less than the moderate and late preterm infants. The WAZ at 6 correction months in early preterm infants were less than the moderate and late preterm infants. The WLZ at 6 correction months in early preterm infants were less than the moderate and late preterm infants. The differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). The HCZ of the two groups has no statistical difference (P>0.05).Conclusions The physical growth and neurodevelopment of the early preterm infants are worse than the moderate and late preterm infants. Therefore, preterm infants of different gestation have different trend of physical growth and neurodevelopment. Attention should be paid to the health care of premature infants of different gestational age.