Risk Stratification for Adverse Outcomes in Preterm Infants with a Birth Weight of Less Than 1500 G Based on Follow-Up Data

Objective: To compare the patterns of perinatal morbidity, morbidity during the first year of life, and disability among preterm infants with a birth weight of less than 1500 g according to their classification as extremely low birth weight or very low birth weight.Materials and Methods: Data from the internal registry of preterm infants maintained by the Republican Center for Follow-up Care of Preterm Infants, Republican Scientific and Practical Center «Mother and Child» (Minsk, Republic of Belarus), were analyzed for 224 infants receiving follow-up care. Two groups were defined according to birth weight: extremely low birth weight (ELBW; <1000 g; n=91) and very low birth weight (VLBW; 1000–1500 g; n=133). The frequencies of pathological conditions were compared between groups. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated, and the Holm correction was applied for multiple comparisons.Results: Severe central nervous system injury, congenital pneumonia, sepsis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), and retinopathy of prematurity were more frequently recorded among infants with ELBW. During the first year of life, BPD was diagnosed in 82.4% of infants with ELBW compared with 33. 1% of those with VLBW (OR=9. 48; 95% CI, 4. 95–18. 15; p<0. 001). Disability was documented in 17. 6% and 3. 8% of infants, respectively (OR=5. 46; 95% CI, 1. 92–15.51; p=0. 015).Conclusion: Preterm infants with ELBW constitute the highest-risk subgroup among infants with a birth weight of less than 1500 g. These findings support a differentiated, risk-oriented approach to the follow-up care of preterm infants.