Influence of length of hospitalization on neuromotor development in premature newborn infants

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of the length of hospital stay on the neuromotor development of preterm newborns (PTNB). This prospective study was carried out with 67 PTNB (gestational age <36 weeks). Neuromotor development was assessed by the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) when NB returned to out-patient follow-up, at median 39 to 44 weeks corrected age. For comparative analysis, PTNB were divided into two groups, according to the length of hospitalization period (HP): group A (n=35) with HP <34 days, and group B (n=32) with HP >;34 days. In statistical analysis significance level was set at p<0.05. Median AIMS scores (possible range 0-21) were 7 in group A, 5 in group B; weak, significant correlations were found at both groups (r=0.32; r=0.34) between AIMS scores and HP. Results show that PTNB who stayed in hospital for more than 34 days showed developmental delay, suggesting that, without excluding other factors, the longer PTNB length of stay, the greater the motor impairment.