VERY-LOW-BIRTH-WEIGHT INFANTS AT 7 YEARS - AN ASSESSMENT OF THE HEALTH AND NEURODEVELOPMENTAL RISK CONVEYED BY CHRONIC LUNG-DISEASE

To determine whether history of chronic lung disease (CLD) in children born at very low birthweight (VLBW) confers additional risk for impai red health, growth, and neurodevelopment, 17 VLBW children born in 198 4 who had CLD (requiring supplemental oxygen more than 30 days after b irth) in infancy and 28 VLBW children who did not have CLD were assess ed at age 7 years. Assessments included a medical history, standard ph ysical and neurological examinations, pulmonary-function tests, and te sts of neuropsychological and psychoeducational functioning. Health st atus did not differ between the groups. In contrast, children with CLD did not perform as well in neuropsychological and psychoeducational a ssessments. Although CLD confers little added risk to health, it seems to add significantly to risks for poor school performance that are kn own to be associated with very low birthweight.