Predictors of early motor trajectories from birth to 5 years in neonatal at-risk and control children

Neurodevelopmental outcome in infants with esophageal atresia: risk factors in the first year of life

Data on neurodevelopmental outcomes of infants born with esophageal atresia (EA) are still scarce and controversial. The aims of our study were to evaluate motor and cognitive development during the first year of life, in patients operated on of EA and to investigate potential risk factors for motor and cognitive development both at 6 and 12 months. This is an observational prospective longitudinal study in a selected cohort of type C and D EA infants enrolled in our follow-up program from 2009 to 2017. In order to exclude possible confounding factors, the following exclusion criteria were applied: (i) gestational age ≤ 32 weeks and/or birth weight ≤ 1500 g; (ii) genetic syndrome or chromosomal anomaly known to be associated with neurodevelopmental delay; (iii) neurologic disease; (iv) esophageal gap ≥three vertebral bodies. Patients were evaluated at 6 and 12 months of life (corrected age for infants with a gestational age of 32-37 weeks) with the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-3rd Edition. In our selected cohort of EA infants, 82 were evaluated at 6 months and 59 were reevaluated at 12 months. Both Motor and Cognitive average scores were within the norm at both time points. However, we report increased number of infants with motor delay with time: 14% at 6 months and 24% at 12 months. Multiple regression analysis for Motor scores at 6 [F(4,74) = 4.363, P = 0.003] and 12 months [F(6,50) = 2.634, P = 0.027] identified (i) low birth weight, (ii) longer hospital stay and (iii) weight < fifth percentile at 1 year as risk factors. Interestingly, average Cognitive scores also increased with time from 85.2% at 6 months and 96.6% at 12 months. Multiple regression models explaining variance of Cognitive scores at 6 [F(4, 73) = 2.458, P = 0.053] and 12 months [F(6, 49) = 1.232, P = 0.306] were nonsignificant. Our selected cohort of EA patients shows, on the average, Motor and Cognitive scores within the norm both at 6 and 12 months. Nevertheless, the percentage of infants with Motor scores below the average increases regardless gestational age. None of clinical and sociodemographic variables taken into consideration was able to predict cognitive development both at 6 and 12 months whereas risk factors for Motor development change during the first year of life. Healthcare providers should pay particular attention to patients with low birth weight, longer hospital stays and weight under fifth percentile at 1 year. Future studies should include long-term outcomes to reveal possible catch up in motor development and/or possible findings in Cognitive scores.

Effects of infant motor problems and treatment with physiotherapy on child outcomes at school-age

BACKGROUND

Early motor coordination problems have previously been associated with various developmental outcomes at school-age.

AIMS

Investigate whether and how treatment with physiotherapy may alter associations between early motor problems and subsequent developmental outcomes.

STUDY DESIGN

A prospective whole-population study.

SUBJECTS

1374 children were followed from birth to 8 years.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Early motor functioning was determined with standard neurological examinations at birth and at 5 months. Information on receipt of physiotherapy was collected through parent interviews at 5, 20 and 56 months. Developmental outcomes at 6 and 8 years included motor skills, mental health, cognitive function, and attention regulation and were determined through standard tests, parent reports and observed behavior ratings.

RESULTS

Early motor problems were associated with lower motor skills, cognitive function, and attention regulation at school-age, but not with mental health. In addition to early motor problems, receipt of physiotherapy was independently and negatively related to outcomes at school-age. Accounting for imbalances in covariates, including initial motor scores, via propensity score matching attenuated the adverse effects of receipt of physiotherapy on school-aged outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Infant motor problems are associated with motor and cognitive outcomes at school-age. Early motor problems may represent a starting point of a trajectory of difficulties that may lead to a higher risk of problems in multiple developmental domains. No evidence for a beneficial effect of treatment with physiotherapy was found.

Early Motor Trajectories Predict Motor but not Cognitive Function in Preterm- and Term-Born Adults without Pre-existing Neurological Conditions

Very preterm (VP; <32 weeks gestation) and/or very low birth weight (VLBW; <1500 g) birth has been associated with an increased risk of adverse motor and cognitive outcomes that may persist into adulthood. The aim of this study was to determine whether motor development in the first five years of life is associated with motor and cognitive outcomes in adulthood. A prospective observational study in Germany followed 260 VP/VLBW and 229 term-born individuals from birth into adulthood. Early motor trajectories (i.e., high and low degree of motor difficulties) were determined from neurological examinations from birth to 56 months. Adult motor and cognitive outcomes were determined from information from multiple instruments and IQ tests, respectively. Associations of VP/VLBW birth and early motor difficulties on adult outcomes were assessed using regression analyses. VP/VLBW individuals had an increased risk for early motor difficulties (Relative Risk: 11.77, 95% confidence interval (CI): 4.28, 32.35). Early motor difficulties were associated with poorer motor competence in adulthood (β = 0.22, p < 0.001), independent of VP/VLBW birth. Adult IQ was predicted by VP/VLBW (β = −0.12, p < 0.05) and child IQ (β = 0.51, p < 0.001), while early motor difficulties ceased to be associated with adult IQ once participants with a neurological impairment were excluded (β = 0.02, p > 0.05). Motor problems in childhood were homotypically associated with poorer motor competence in adulthood. Similarly, early cognitive problems were homotypically associated with adult cognitive outcomes. Thus, both motor and cognitive function should be assessed in routine follow-up during childhood.