Factors associated with non‐nutritive sucking habits at 2 years of age among very preterm children: EPIPAGE‐2 cohort study

Preterm children have an increased risk of neurodevelopmental impairments which include psychomotor and language retardation. The objectives of the present retrospective cohort study were to examine the effects of an individually adapted, home-based, and family-centred early developmental habilitation program on neurodevelopmental and behavioural outcomes of very preterm children compared with a standard follow-up at 2 years’ corrected age. Enrolled infants were retrospectively assigned to the intervention group (61 subjects) or to the control group (62 subjects) depending on whether they had or had not carried out a home-based family-centred early developmental habilitation program focused on environmental enrichment, parent-guided environmental interaction, and infant development. Developmental outcome was assessed for both groups at 24 months’ corrected age using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development 2nd Edition. Intervention significantly improved both cognitive and behavioural outcomes. In addition, males had significantly lower scores than females either before or after treatment. However, the treatment was effective in both genders to the same extent. In conclusion, a timely updated environment suitable to the infant’s developmental needs could provide the best substrate where the parent-infant relationship can be practised with the ultimate goal of achieving further developmental steps.

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Behavioral problems in very preterm children at five years of age using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire: A multicenter cohort study

Early Human Development ◽

10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2020.105200 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 151 ◽

pp. 105200

Author(s):

Timm Bartal ◽

Mark Adams ◽

Giancarlo Natalucci ◽

Cristina Borradori-Tolsa ◽

Beatrice Latal

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

Behavioral Problems ◽

Strengths And Difficulties Questionnaire ◽

Multicenter Cohort Study ◽

Preterm Children ◽

Very Preterm ◽

Multicenter Cohort ◽

Strengths And Difficulties

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Screening for Retinopathy of Prematurity in Very Preterm Children: The EPIPAGE-2 Cohort Study

Neonatology ◽

10.1159/000513225 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 118 (1) ◽

pp. 80-89

Author(s):

Thibaut Chapron ◽

Georges Caputo ◽

Vèronique Pierrat ◽

Elsa Kermorvant ◽

Amandine Barjol ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia ◽

Gestational Age ◽

Retinopathy Of Prematurity ◽

Wide Angle ◽

Related Factors ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Very Preterm ◽

Local Protocol ◽

Rop Screening

Introduction: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a blinding disease that requires screening by retinal examination. Screening practices are rarely evaluated. We aimed to determine the prevalence of ROP screening in very preterm infants and individual- and center-related factors associated with ROP screening. Methods: Data were extracted from the EPIPAGE-2 cohort, a French prospective population-based study of premature births in 2011. Children born before 32 weeks’ gestation (WG) without severe malformation and alive at the recommended time for ROP screening were included. Outcome measures were achievement of ROP screening and compliance with recommended screening timeline. Individual- and center-related factors associated with both measures were studied using mixed models. Results: Among 3,077 eligible infants, 2,169 (70.5%) had a ROP screening, ranging from 96% at 24 WG to 50% at 31 WG. Large variability among units was observed. Individual characteristics associated with screening were low gestational age, low birth weight, severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia or neurological lesions, and transfer between neonatal units during the screening period. Odds of screening were higher in neonatal units using wide-angle imaging (odds ratio 2.65 [95% confidence interval 1.17–6.01]) but decreased in units without a local protocol for ROP screening (0.03 [0.01–0.09]). Among screened children, 1,641/2,169 (75.7%) were screened according to recommended timeline. Delayed screening was associated with low gestational age, severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia or necrotizing enterocolitis, and absence of local protocol for ROP screening. Discussion/Conclusions: In this large cohort study of infants born very preterm, almost one-third were not screened for ROP. Children most at risk for ROP were the best screened but often with delay. The higher compliance of neonatal units using wide-angle imaging systems supports its use.

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