Outcome for infants at high risk of major handicap

Abstract

Perinatal intensive care had been introduced in University College Hospital, London, by 1966. In the succeeding 10 years, 28-day mortality rates fell among infants of birth weight 1500 g or less. Among the survivors, the incidence of major handicap was 10% or less and the mean IQ increased to within the range expected for a normal population. Of the children aged 8 years or more 76% had no handicaps and were attending normal schools; 18% had minor handicaps or problems for which they were receiving extra help in normal schools; and only 6% were attending special schools. Throughout the 10 years of the study, the overall prognosis for these infants of very low birth weight improved significantly. Results among other high-risk groups were equally encouraging. Analysis of variance of the data from the infants who weighed 1500 g or less at birth indicated that perinatal complications, particularly illnesses associated with abnormal neurological signs or acidaemia in the infants around the time of birth, were the principal factors determining the condition of the survivors at follow-up. Thus, it is likely that additional refinements in the management of the perinatal period may result in further improvements in the prognosis of these and other high-risk newborns.