Follow-Up of VLBW Infants With Chronic Lung Disease: Respiratory Health and Neurodevelopment

Although previous studies showed that preterm infants resolving from neonatal respiratory disease are more likely to exhibit respiratory illness, developmental disorders, impaired growth and cognitive limitations compared with those without, the information concerning the longitudinal respiratory and neurodevelopmental outcome of recently survived preterm infants with CLD is limited.Therefore, the purpose of this study is threefold. First, VLBW infants with CLD, VLBW infants without CLD and full-term infants will be examined for respiratory health at 3-5 years old and will be assessed the relations of early respiratory and environmental variables with later respiratory outcome. Secondly, all infants will be examined for neurodevelopmental outcome, and will be assessed the relations of early neuromotor and environmental variables with later neurodevelopmental outcome. Thirdly, the VLBW infants will be assessed for the concurrent and consecutive longitudinal relationships between respiratory and neurodevelopmental measures.