RELATION BETWEEN VERY-LOW-BIRTH-WEIGHT AND DEVELOPMENTAL DELAY AMONG PRESCHOOL-CHILDREN WITHOUT DISABILITIES

The authors examined the relation between very low birth weight (VLBW: <1,500 g) and possible developmental delay (DELAY) in the absence of frank developmental disability among young children. The prevalence of DELAY in a population-based cohort (Missouri resident births born fro m December 1989 through March 1991) of singleton VLBW children (n = 36 7) was compared with the prevalence of DELAY among both moderately low birth weight (MLBW: 1,500-2,499 g; n = 553) and normal birth weight ( NEW: greater than or equal to 2,500 g; n = 555) singleton control chil dren. DELAY was defined by nine measures of performance on the Denver Developmental Screening Test II at a median adjusted age of 15 months (range: 9-34 months). Subjects were asymptomatic for disabling conditi ons at developmental follow-up. Apparently well VLBW children were con sistently at greater risk for both moderate and severe measures of DEL AY and for DELAY across four functional areas than were either the MLB W (adjusted odds ratios: 1.4-2.7) or NEW children (adjusted odds ratio s: 2.1-6.3). The greatest prevalence of DELAY tended to be among appro priate-for-gestational age VLBW children who were also the most premat ure. This study supports developmental follow-up of nondisabled VLBW c hildren because of the significantly elevated risk for DELAY among app arently normal infants.