OP-090 Neurodevelopmental outcomes of extremly low birth weight infants

Aim Studies on extremely low birth weight <1000 gr (ELBW) infants are limited and it has been observed that there are not enough studies on the long-term follow-up of these babies. This study aims to determine the causes of early and late-term morbidity in ELBW infants and to determine their effects on neurodevelopmental prognosis. Material and Method The patients forming the study group consisted of patients who were followed up and discharged from Kartal City Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit between 2011 and 2021. Data from 59 ELBW infants were included in the study. The babies' prenatal, perinatal and postnatal data were collected from patient files and the hospital data system. The neurodevelopmental status of the patients, whose chronological ages ranged from 1 year 9 months to 11 years 10 months, was questioned and evaluated. Each patient was seen individually with their parents and full examination was performed by the same pediatrician. Denver II Developmental Screening Test was used for developmental evaluation and follow-up of the patients. Results Survival for all ADDA babies born in our hospital during the study period was 58.7%. Gestational age was between 23.4–32.5 weeks (27±3), and birth weight was between 540–990 g (844±103). Cerebral palsy was detected in 11.8%, blindness in 3.3%, and hearing loss in 3.3%. The incidence of neurodevelopmental disorders was 12%. 33.8 percent of the cases were slightly affected, and 54.2% were not affected at all. A statistically significant difference was found between breastfeeding duration and the neurodevelopmental outcomes of the infants (table 1). Conclusions This study emphasizes the importance of determining the neurodevelopmental prognosis in ELBW infants. A better understanding of prenatal and perinatal risk factors, identifying neurodevelopmental delays and initiating appropriate interventions at an early stage can significantly improve the quality of life of these infants and may help develop future treatment strategies.