Effects of physiologic jaundice on behavioral function in low-risk preterm infants

This study is aimed at assessing untoward effects of physiologic jaundice on apparently well babies 1 month after jaundice was cleared. Two measures of neonatal physiologic jaundice were correlated with 15 behavioral measures, taken from 37 low-risk Black preterm infants tested at expected date of birth. The behavioral measures evaluated visual function, motor function, affect, and central nervous system integrity. Higher bilirubin values were associated with poorer visual function, quicker cessation of distress in response to social intervention, and longer periods of active sleep. The pattern of the results was similar when the effects of health risks other than jaundice were statistically controlled. The results support the hypothesis that even physiologic jaundice is associated with individual differences in the behavioral outcome of preterm infants.