engleski

Children cured in neonatal intensive care unit: Outcome in preschool age

Background: We examined developmental outcome of children cured in neonatal intensive care in relation to biomarkers of brain lesion and social-environmental factors. Methods: 32 children (preterm and full term) cured at intensive care unit after birth, who had verified brain lesion, were assessed at preschool age (3-6) by Wechsler Preschool Scale of Intelligence, Child Behavior Checklist and magnetic resonance brain imaging. Results: Regression analysis showed that brain abnormality and socio-environmental status were predictors of general and nonverbal (performance) reasoning abilities. Verbal abilities were predicted only by social-environmental factors. Gestational age was not predictor of outcome. Behavior was not predicted by given variables. Discussion: Bio-medical lesion factors are more strongly related to nonverbal reasoning functions, and social-environmental factors to verbal. This should be taken into account in early intervention programs. Special focus should be put on interplay between social and biomedical risk factors because they create a double jeopardy for outcome.

neonatal intenstive care unit; children; outcome

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