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Context: Although cerebral palsy (CP) among extremely premature infants has been reported as a major morbidity outcome, there are difficulties comparing published CP rates from many sites over various birth years., Objective: To assess the changes in population-based, gestational age-specific prevalence rates of CP among extremely premature infants over 30 years., Design: Prospective population-based longitudinal outcome study., Setting and Participants: In Northern Alberta, 2318 infants 20 to 27 weeks' gestational age with birth weights of 500 to 1249 g were liveborn from 1974 through 2003. By 2 years of age, 1437 (62%) had died, 23 (1%) were lost to follow-up, and 858 (37%) had received multidisciplinary neurodevelopmental assessment., Main Outcome Measure: Population-based prevalence rates of CP were determined. Logistic regression with linear spline was used to assess changes in CP prevalence over time., Results: At age 2 years, 122 (14.2%) of 858 survivors had CP. This diagnosis was confirmed for each child by age 3 years or older. Among those whose gestational age was 20 to 25 weeks, population-based survival increased from 4% to 31% (P<.001), while CP prevalence per 1000 live births increased monotonically from 0 to 110 until the years 1992-1994 (P<.001) and decreased thereafter to 22 in the years 2001-2003 (P<.001). Among those whose gestational age was 26 to 27 weeks, population-based survival increased from 23% to between 75% and 80% (P<.001), while CP prevalence per 1000 live births increased monotonically from 15 to 155 until the years 1992-1994 (P<.001) and then decreased to 16 in the years 2001-2003 (P<.001). For all survivors born in the years 2001-2003, CP prevalence was 19 per 1000 live births., Conclusion: Population-based CP prevalence rates for children whose gestational age was 20 to 27 weeks and whose birth weight ranged from 500 to 1249 g show steady reductions in the last decade with stable or reducing mortality, reversing trends prior to 1992-1994.

Two approaches were taken to determine what is new and where we are going in terms of outcomes for the extremely premature infant: publications from 2004 to 2007 were reviewed, and the 30-year outcome at the authors'' institutions was assessed. Recent literature documents improving early childhood outcomes in the face of improved survival. Childhood cerebral palsy prevalence rates have been reported to be as low as 19 per 1000 live births for infants born at 20-27 weeks gestation. Vision and hearing loss have been reported in fewer than 1% of survivors. The rate of overall intellectual impairment has not improved, although impairment was reduced in a recent trial of caffeine therapy for apnea of prematurity, and this remains an important area for study. In sum, recent findings herald a more positive perspective on the outcome for extremely premature survivors. It can thus be expected that new intensive-care trials will attempt to reduce the proportion of survivors with adverse outcomes. Childhood assessments will have a greater focus on function and participation. Information on improved outcomes for preterm infants will inform guidelines of decision making used to help parents to determine what is best for their child. The audit component of follow-up studies will expand and more cohort and trial studies will become multicenter, national, and international. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]