Long-term predictivity of early neurological assessment and developmental trajectories in low-risk preterm infants

Daniela Dicanio; Giulia Spoto; Angela Alibrandi; Roberta Minutoli; Antonio Gennaro Nicotera; Gabriella Di Rosa

doi:10.3389/fneur.2022.958682

Long-term predictivity of early neurological assessment and developmental trajectories in low-risk preterm infants

Front Neurol. 2022 Sep 27:13:958682. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2022.958682. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Daniela Dicanio¹, Giulia Spoto¹, Angela Alibrandi², Roberta Minutoli¹, Antonio Gennaro Nicotera¹, Gabriella Di Rosa¹

Affiliations

¹ Unit of Child Neurology and Psychiatry, Department of Human Pathology of the Adult and Developmental Age, "Gaetano Barresi" University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
² Department of Economics, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.

Abstract

Prematurity represents 10.6% of all births, and although preterm infants usually show adequate neurodevelopmental outcomes, some may develop significant and long-lasting neurological sequelae. Many studies have analyzed predictive factors for developing severe neurodevelopmental impairments (cerebral palsy, other motor and socio-relational disorders such as autism). In this study, 148 preterm infants were enrolled to investigate the neurodevelopmental trajectories in a population of low-risk premature infants using standardized assessment methods. Significant correlations were found between the general movements, the Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination, and the Griffiths Mental and Development Scales. Moreover, this study showed their validity and predictivity for adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes even in low-risk infants.

Keywords: general movements assessment; griffiths mental development scales; hammersmith infant neurological examination; low-risk preterm; prematurity; preterm.