Developmental status of NICU admited low birth weight preterm neonates at 6 and 12 months of age using Ages and Stages Questionaire

ObjectiveLow birth weight (LBW or birth weight<2500g) can be one of the serious problemsin children. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the developmental statusof LBW preterm neonates admited at neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at thecorrected ages of six and 12 months via the Persian version of Ages and StagesQuestionnaires (ASQ).Materials & MethodsIn a follow up study, fifty LBW preterm neonates admitted to Shahid SadoughiHospital NICU in 2008 were evaluated for developmental status at 6 and 12months of age using ASQ.ResultsTwenty four boys and 26 girls with a mean gestational age of 31.3 ± 2.7weeks and a mean birth weight of 1480.3 ± 422.8 grams were evaluated.Developmental delay in gross motor and personal social skills domains werethe most prevalent abnormal developmental status at 6 and 12 months of age.Mean score in gross motor skills, personal social skills and porblem solvingdomains at 12 months of age were significantly higher in neonates with birthweight 1500 grams.Mean score in fine motor skills, communication and problem solving domainsat 12 months of age were significantly higher in neonates who were exclusivelybreast fed.ConclusionLBW and preterm infants admitted to the NICU showed degrees ofdevelopmental delay at the ages of 6 and 12 months, especially in the grossmotor and personal-social developmental domains on the ASQ. So, evaluationand monitoring of development status of LBW should be emphasized for earlyand timely diagnosis, investigation, and management.