Prognosis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants: a follow-up during infancy

Abstract:

Objective To investigate the physical development, incidence of common respiratory diseases, and motor development during infancy in preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical features and infantile outcomes of preterm infants with BPD who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit between January 2012 and December 2015. Preterm infants without BPD were used as controls who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit during the same period and had similar gestational age and birth weight. Physical development, number of hospital stays, the incidences of pneumonia and wheezing, and motor development during infancy were compared between the two groups. Results Compared with the control group, BPD infants had a significantly higher incidence of extrauterine growth retardation at discharge (48% vs 41%; P < 0.05); BPD infants were more susceptible to pneumonia, wheezing, eczema and rhinitis; BDP infants also had a significantly higher number of readmissions due to respiratory tract infection (P < 0.05). BPD infants had a significantly smaller head circumference than the control group at corrected ages of 3, 6, and 12 months (P < 0.05). BPD infants had significantly delayed gross, fine, and overall motor development than the control group at corrected ages of 6 and 9 months (P < 0.05). Conclusions Infants with BPD are susceptible to extrauterine growth retardation at discharge. Their head circumference growth is relatively slow. They are susceptible to pneumonia and wheezing during infancy. Moreover, they have delayed motor development when compared with those without BPD at corrected ages of 6 and 9 months.