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. 2016 Jun;58(6):554-69.
doi: 10.1111/dmcn.12972. Epub 2016 Feb 10.

Prognostic factors for cerebral palsy and motor impairment in children born very preterm or very low birthweight: a systematic review

Louise Linsell  1 , Reem Malouf  1 , Joan Morris  2 , Jennifer J Kurinczuk  1 , Neil Marlow  3
Affiliations

Prognostic factors for cerebral palsy and motor impairment in children born very preterm or very low birthweight: a systematic review

Louise Linsell et al. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2016 Jun.

Abstract

Aim: There is a large literature reporting risk factor analyses for poor neurodevelopment in children born very preterm (VPT: ≤32wks) or very low birthweight (VLBW: ≤1250g), which to date has not been formally summarized. The aim of this paper was to identify prognostic factors for cerebral palsy (CP) and motor impairment in children born VPT/VLBW.

Method: A systematic review was conducted using Medline, Embase, and Pyscinfo databases to identify studies published between 1 January 1990 and 1 June 2014 reporting multivariable prediction models for poor neurodevelopment in VPT/VLBW children (registration number CRD42014006943). Twenty-eight studies for motor outcomes were identified.

Results: There was strong evidence that intraventricular haemorrhage and periventricular leukomalacia, and some evidence that the use of postnatal steroids and non-use of antenatal steroids, were prognostic factors for CP. Male sex and gestational age were of limited use as prognostic factors for CP in cohorts restricted to ≤32 weeks gestation; however, in children older than 5 years with no major disability, there was evidence that male sex was a predictive factor for motor impairment.

Interpretation: This review has identified factors which may be of prognostic value for CP and motor impairment in VPT/VLBW children and will help to form the basis of future prognostic research.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow diagram of study search and selection.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Risk of bias assessment of the 28 motor studies included in the review.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Evidence synthesis of risk factors for cerebral palsy in children born very preterm or with very low birthweight.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Evidence synthesis of risk factors for impaired fine or gross motor skills in children born very preterm or with very low birthweight.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

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