Neurodevelopmental outcome in very preterm and very‐low‐birthweight infants born over the past decade: a meta‐analytic review

<jats:sec><jats:title>Aim</jats:title><jats:p>The purpose of this systematic review was to provide an up‐to‐date global overview of the separate prevalences of motor and cognitive delays and cerebral palsy (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">CP</jats:styled-content>) in very preterm (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">VPT</jats:styled-content>) and very‐low‐birthweight (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">VLBW</jats:styled-content>) infants.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Method</jats:title><jats:p>A comprehensive search was conducted across four databases. Cohort studies reporting the prevalence of<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">CP</jats:styled-content>and motor or cognitive outcome from 18 months corrected age until 6 years of<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">VPT</jats:styled-content>or<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">VLBW</jats:styled-content>infants born after 2006 were included. Pooled prevalences were calculated with random‐effects models.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>Thirty studies were retained, which included a total of 10 293 infants. The pooled prevalence of cognitive and motor delays, evaluated with developmental tests, was estimated at 16.9% (95% confidence interval [<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">CI</jats:styled-content>] 10.4–26.3) and 20.6% (95%<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">CI</jats:styled-content>13.9–29.4%) respectively. Mild delays were more frequent than moderate‐to‐severe delays. Pooled prevalence of<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">CP</jats:styled-content>was estimated to be 6.8% (95%<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">CI</jats:styled-content>5.5–8.4). Decreasing gestational age and birthweight resulted in higher prevalences. Lower pooled prevalences were found with the Third Edition of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development than with the Second Edition.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Interpretation</jats:title><jats:p>Even though neonatal intensive care has improved over recent decades, there is still a wide range of neurodevelopmental disabilities resulting from<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">VPT</jats:styled-content>and<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">VLBW</jats:styled-content>births. However, pooled prevalences of<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">CP</jats:styled-content>have diminished over the years.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>What this paper adds</jats:title><jats:p><jats:list list-type="bullet"><jats:list-item><jats:p>The Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition reported lower pooled prevalences of motor and cognitive delays than the Second Edition.</jats:p></jats:list-item><jats:list-item><jats:p>The pooled prevalence of cerebral palsy in infants born extremely preterm was reduced compared with previous meta‐analyses.</jats:p></jats:list-item></jats:list></jats:p></jats:sec>