Outcomes and follow-up programmes in extreme preterm children in Denmark in the EPICE/SHIPS cohort

INTRODUCTION: This study presents outcomes and follow-up tools for children born very (28 + 0 - 31 + 6 weeks) and extremely (22 + 0 - 27 + 6 weeks) preterm in a Danish sub-cohort of the European project Effective Perinatal Intensive Care in Europe (EPICE) cohort.

METHODS: All live and stillbirths with a gestational age 22 + 0 - 31 + 6 weeks from eight hospitals in Eastern Denmark (Funen, Zealand, Lolland and Falster) in 2011-2012 were included in the cohort (n = 441). Questionnaires were sent to parents at two and five years (including subscales of the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ)). Full-scale IQ and motor function were assessed by professionals in extremely preterm children at five years of age using the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence and Movement Assessment Battery for Children.

RESULTS: The study included 141 extremely and 210 very preterm live-born children, and among these 87 and 199 survived to discharge, respectively. The full-scale IQ was not significantly lower in children with potential developmental difficulties according to the ASQ. Children with parental reporting of fine motor difficulties had a poorer overall motor function (mean difference 2.8 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.2-4.5)) and fine motor function (mean difference 3.4 (95% CI: 1.7-5.1)) than children with no reported fine motor difficulties.

CONCLUSIONS: Few severe difficulties, e.g., cerebral palsy, were found. At five years, parental reporting on fine motor skills was associated with fine and overall motor skills as assessed by professionals.

FUNDING: none.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: not relevant.