Evaluation of neurodevelopmental outcome in neonates with BPD in 18-24 months of corrected age

Abstract

According to the advancement of medical care, the survival rate of preterm babies has increased. Based on this, due to the increase of infants with BPD, the amount of related complications and adverse outcomes has also increased. This study aimed to investigate the developmental outcome of preterm infants with BPD at the corrected age of 18-24 months. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, preterm infants hospitalized in Al-Zahra Hospital in Tabriz who needed oxygen for more than 28 days were included in the study. The inclusion criteria were according to the national protocol for the care of high-risk infants, therefore, all premature infants who were eligible during the last 5 years since the beginning of sampling (year 2021) were included in the study. Patients were examined in two groups (BPD) and control (without BPD). Information related to the prenatal, intrapartum, and neonatal period and neurodevelopmental assessment (based on ASQ and Bayley-III criteria) were evaluated in infants. Results: 65 infants with BPD and 67 infants without BPD were examined as a control group. Out of 65 infants with BPD, 40% had mild BPD, 47.7% had moderate BPD, and 12.3% had severe BPD. In infants with BPD, the frequency of maternal preeclampsia and HTN (63.1% vs. 16.4%; p=0.001), PROM (33.8% vs. 3%; p=0.001), decolman (18.5% vs. 0%; p=0.001), mechanical ventilation (23.1% vs. 0%; p=0.001) and surfactant administration (95.4% vs. 25.4%; p=0.001) are higher compared to the control group. Neonatal complications include pulmonary hemorrhage (12.3% vs. 0%; p=0.003), culture positive sepsis (24.6% vs. 5.9%; p=0.004), steroid use during hospitalization (87.7% vs. 0%; p=0.001) and IUGR (30.8% vs. 6%; p=0.001) had a significantly higher frequency in infants with BPD compared to the control group. Finally, the frequency of abnormal ASQ (66.2% vs. 16.4%; p=0.001) and abnormal Bayley (66.2% vs. 16.4%; p=0.001) in BPD infants was higher compared with in the control group.