Early general movements are associated with developmental outcomes at 4.5-5 years.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Prechtl's general movements assessment (GMA) post-term has high predictive validity for cerebral palsy, but less is known about whether earlier GMA, including before term, are associated with other developmental problems.

AIMS:

To examine the relationships between GMA prior to term and at term-equivalent, with developmental outcomes at 4.5-5 years' corrected age.

STUDY DESIGN:

Prospective cohort study.

SUBJECTS:

122 very preterm infants born <30 weeks' gestation and 91 healthy term controls.

OUTCOME MEASURES:

GMA (categorised as 'normal' or 'abnormal') were assessed at <32, 32-33 and 34-36 weeks' postmenstrual age for the preterm infants, and at term-equivalent for both groups. Children were assessed at 4.5-5 years' corrected age using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2nd edition (MABC-2), Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory-Computer Adaptive Test (PEDI-CAT), Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL), Little Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (Little DCD-Q) and Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence-IV (WPPSI-IV).

RESULTS:

Prior to term, abnormal GMA at the first two timepoints were associated with lower scores on the Little DCD-Q, and abnormal GMA at the second and third timepoints with lower quality of life scores and PEDI-CAT mobility domain scores. Abnormal GMA at term-equivalent were associated with lower MABC-2, mobility and quality of life scores for preterm infants, and worse social/cognitive domain scores for both groups.

CONCLUSIONS:

Abnormal GMA prior to term and at term-equivalent are associated with worse motor, functional and cognitive outcomes at 4.5-5 years' corrected age, and may be useful to identify infants for developmental surveillance/early intervention.

• Authors: Joy E Olsen, Jeanie L Y Cheong, Abbey L Eeles, Tara L FitzGerald, Kate L Cameron, Reem A Albesher, Peter J Anderson, Lex W Doyle, Alicia J Spittle
• Journal: Early human development (Early Hum Dev) Vol. 148 Pg. 105115 (09 2020) ISSN: 1872-6232 [Electronic] Ireland
• PMID: 32615517 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Case-Control Studies
• Child Development (physiology)
• Child, Preschool
• Female
• Humans
• Infant, Extremely Premature
• Male
• Motor Activity
• Movement
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders (diagnosis, etiology)
• Neurologic Examination
• Prospective Studies