1275 The Neurodevelopmental Assessment of Very Low Birth Weight Infants at 4-6 Years of Age and the Relationship with Risk Factors

The major and minor neurodevelopmental morbidities among premature infants become an important issue because of the increase in the number of surviving premature newborns, especially in the smaller gestational age group. The aim of this study was to examine the neuromotor outcome of the premature newborns at 4–6 years of age born with very low birth weight and to investigate the risk factors associated with this outcome. The present study was conducted in 70 very low birth weight children born during april 2004 and june 2007. The neuromotor status of 68 children were evaluated according to Touwen. The hospital records of the children were scanned for various risk factors. Three cases were already diagnosed and followed as CP. The remaining 65 children did not meet the criteria for CP. According to Touwen examination 28 (%41.2) children were considered as normal, 35 (%51.5) had simple minor neurological dysfunction, 2 (%2.9) had complex minor neurological dysfunction. 35 children with minor neurological dysfunction and 28 children with normal neuromotor status were compared for some risk factors. The children with minor neurological dysfunction had significantly lower Apgar score, their hosipitalization period was longer and the diagnosis rate of clinical (%73.5; %25) and culture proven sepsis (%47.1; %10.7) was higher in this group. Sepsis was significantly associated with adverse neurological outcome. The prevention of neonatal sepsis in NICU9s will increase the chance for healthy neurological development.