Neurodevelopment at 2 years corrected age among Vietnamese preterm infants

Background Preterm infants are at risk of neurodevelopmental delay, but data on long-term outcomes in low-income and middle-income countries remain scarce. Objectives To examine neurodevelopment using Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-3rd edition (Bayley-III) and neurological findings in 2-year-old preterm infants, and to compare with healthy Vietnamese infants. Further, to assess factors associated with neurodevelopmental impairment. Design and setting Cohort study to follow up preterm infants discharged from a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of a tertiary children’s hospital in Vietnam. Participants Infants born at Main outcomes Bayley-III assessment and neurological examination at 2-year corrected age (CA) compared with healthy Vietnamese infants. Results Of 294 NICU preterm infants, Bayley-III scores of all 184/243 (76%) survivors at 2 years CA were significantly lower than those of healthy Vietnamese peers in all three domains: cognition (mean (SD): 84.5 (8.6) vs 91.4 (7.5), p Conclusions Vietnamese preterm infants in need of neonatal intensive care showed poor neurodevelopment at 2 years. Higher maternal education was positively associated with infant neurodevelopment. Standard follow-up programmes for preterm infants should be considered in low-resource settings.