INFLUENCE OF PERINATAL, DEVELOPMENTAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL-FACTORS ON COGNITIVE-ABILITIES OF PRETERM CHILDREN WITHOUT MAJOR IMPAIRMENTS AT 5 YEARS

The relative role of perinatal factors (birthweight, gestational age, gender, asphyxia, mechanical ventilation and cerebral lesions), develo pmental factors (neuromotor development during the first 18 months of life) and environmental factors (socio-economic status and bilingualis m) on cognitive abilities was evaluated in a cohort of preterm childre n who had been prospectively examined for haemorrhage (PVH) and perive ntricular leucomalacia (PVL) and followed-up to 5 years of age. Standa rdised neurological examinations and development assessment including tests of cognitive function were carried out. Major impairments could be ascribed to the presence of large PVL changes. Among the 226 childr en without major impairment, the overall incidence of neuropsychologic al anomalies (neuromotor, language, visual, auditory and behaviour ano malies) was 46.5% and did not differ within ultrasound groups (normal scans, PVH and small PVL). However, children with small changes of PVL presented more abnormal neuromotor development within the first 18 mo nths of life and had more complex neuropsychological anomalies at 5 ye ars. The multiple regression analysis (General Intellectual Index (GII ) predicted = 113.7 - coefficient x social class - 8.5 x bilingualism - 5.5 x dystonia + 1.4 x gestational age + 8 x mechanical ventilation) showed that socioeconomic status was the most important factor affect ing the General Intellectual Index (GII). The contribution of sex and cerebral lesions was not significant. As children grew-up, environment al factors seemed to overcome perinatal factors.