aEEG in the first 3 days after extremely preterm delivery relates to neurodevelopmental outcomes

Objectives Investigate relationships between aEEG in the first 72 h in extremely preterm infants with 1) infant, medical, and environmental factors, and 2) infant feeding and neurobehavioral outcomes at term and school-age. Methods Sixty-four preterm infants (≤28 weeks gestation) were enrolled within the first 24-hours of life and had two-channel aEEG until 72 h of life. Standardized neurobehavioral and feeding assessments were conducted at term, and parent-reported outcomes were documented at 5–7 years. Results Lower aEEG Burdjalov scores (adjusted for gestational age) were related to vaginal delivery ( p = 0.04), cerebral injury ( p = 0.01), Black race ( p < 0.01) and having unmarried parents ( p = 0.02). Lower Burdjalov scores related to less NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale arousal ( p = 0.002) at term and poorer BRIEF global executive function ( p = 0.004), inhibition ( p = 0.007), working memory ( p = 0.02), material organization ( p = 0.0008), metacognition ( p = 0.01), and behavioral regulation ( p = 0.02) at 5–7 years. We did not observe relationships of early aEEG to feeding outcomes or sensory processing measures. Conclusion Early aEEG within the first 72 h of life was related to medical and sociodemographic factors as well as cognitive outcome at 5–7 years.