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Extremely Low-Birth-Weight Infants Become Normal Adults
Clinical Question: Do extremely low-birth-weight infants achieve functional adulthood?
Setting: Population-based
Study Design: Cohort (prospective)
Synopsis: Extremely low-birth-weight children and adolescents often exhibit lower measures of cognition, academic achievement, behavior, and social adaptation than normal-birth-weight peers. Extremely low birth weight is defined as a birth weight of less than 2 lb, 3 oz (1,000 g). To determine successful transition to adulthood, the investigators analyzed the results of a prospective, population-based cohort of 166 extremely low-birth-weight participants and 145 sociodemographically comparable normal-birth-weight participants assessed at 22 to 25 years of age.
Interviewers blinded to participant status administered validated questionnaires assessing education, employment, independent living, marital status, and parenthood. Complete follow-up occurred for 90 percent of study participants. Overall, no significant differences were found in attaining an education, getting a job, living independently, getting married, or having children. The age of attainment of these markers was similar for both cohorts.
Bottom Line: Nearly all surviving extremely low-birth-weight children and adolescents overcome early cognitive and social difficulties and reach a functional level comparable with normal-birth-weight peers. (Level of Evidence: 1b)
Study Reference: Saigal S, et al. Transition of extremely low-birth-weight infants from adolescence to young adulthood: comparison with normal birth-weight controls. JAMA February 8, 2006;295:667-75.
Used with permission from Slawson D. Most extremely low-birth-weight infants reach functional adulthood. Accessed March 29, 2006, at: http://www.InfoPOEMs.com.
| Copyright © 2006 by the American
Academy of Family Physicians. |
