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. 2022 Sep;64(9):1131-1144.
doi: 10.1111/dmcn.15202. Epub 2022 Mar 17.

Motor-related health care for 5-year-old children born extremely preterm with movement impairments

Raquel Costa  1   2 , Adrien M Aubert  3 , Anna-Veera Seppänen  3 , Ulrika Ådén  4   5 , Lemke Sarrechia  6 , Michael Zemlin  7 , Marina Cuttini  8 , Mairi Männamaa  9 , Véronique Pierrat  3   10 , Arno van Heijst  11 , Henrique Barros  1   2 , Samantha Johnson  12 , Jennifer Zeitlin  3 ; SHIPS research group
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Free article

Motor-related health care for 5-year-old children born extremely preterm with movement impairments

Raquel Costa et al. Dev Med Child Neurol. 2022 Sep.
Free article

Abstract

Aim: To (1) determine the proportion of 5-year-old children born extremely preterm (EPT) with movement difficulties including cerebral palsy (CP) and the proportion of these children receiving motor-related health care (MRHC), and (2) describe factors associated with receiving MRHC.

Method: Children born before 28 weeks' gestation in 2011 to 2012 in 11 European countries were assessed with the Movement Assessment Battery for Children, Second Edition (MABC-2) at 5 years of age. Information on family characteristics, child health including CP diagnosis, and health care use were collected using parent-report questionnaires. MRHC was defined as visits in the previous year with health care providers (physical and occupational therapists) specialized in assessing/treating motor problems. We analysed receipt of MRHC and associated factors among children at risk of movement difficulties (MABC-2 score 6th-15th centiles), with significant movement difficulties (SMD; ≤5th centile) or with CP.

Results: Of 807 children assessed at 5 years 7 months (SD 4 months; 4 years 7 months-7 years 1 month), 412 were males (51.1%), 170 (21.1%) were at risk of movement difficulties, 201 (24.9%) had SMD, and 92 (11.4%) had CP. Those who received MRHC comprised 89.1% of children with CP, 42.8% with SMD, and 25.9% at risk of movement difficulties. MRHC for children with SMD varied from 23.3% to 66.7% between countries. Children were more likely to receive MRHC if they had other developmental problems or socioemotional, conduct, or attention difficulties.

Interpretation: Efforts are needed to increase MRHC for 5-year-old children born EPT with movement difficulties.

What this paper adds: Children born extremely preterm without cerebral palsy frequently experienced motor difficulties. Most of these children were not receiving motor-related health care (MRHC). Large geographical differences throughout Europe were observed in receipt of MRHC. Socioemotional problems were related to MRHC use.

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References

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