TY - JOUR
T1 - A two-year follow-up study of very preterm infants in Italy
T2 - aims and study design
AU - Cuttini, Marina
AU - Caravale, Barbara
AU - Carnielli, Virgilio
AU - Chiandotto, Valeria
AU - Contoli, Benedetta
AU - Corchia, Carlo
AU - Da Frè, Monica
AU - Di Lallo, Domenico
AU - Ferrazzoli, Federica
AU - Fertz, Mariacristina
AU - Guzzo, Immacolata
AU - Miniaci, Silvana
AU - Mirante, Nadia
AU - Piga, Simone
AU - Rusconi, Franca
AU - Buiatti, Eva
PY - 2009/12
Y1 - 2009/12
N2 - This paper describes the objectives and study design of a population-based follow-up study of very preterm children in Italy (the ACTION 2 project), with a discussion of the methodological choices made and the difficulties encountered. Five Italian regions participated. All children born in these regions at 22-31 weeks of gestational age and discharged alive from neonatal intensive care units were eligible (n = 1407). The overall follow-up rate was 83%. Children born to foreign mothers, singletons and those with a slightly higher birth weight were less likely to return for follow-up. The assessment included a paediatric medical visit at 2 years corrected age to identify major neuromotor and sensory disability, a cognitive and behavioural screening carried out by means of a parental questionnaire, and a post-visit telephone interview with the mother. A control group of term-born 2-year-old children was recruited for the parental questionnaire and telephone interview only. The strengths of this study are the population-based approach, the large sample size and the focus on a functional assessment of development. The main limitation is the lack of formal cognitive testing. Follow-up of the cohort at school age will be necessary to obtain a full picture of the growth and development of these children.
AB - This paper describes the objectives and study design of a population-based follow-up study of very preterm children in Italy (the ACTION 2 project), with a discussion of the methodological choices made and the difficulties encountered. Five Italian regions participated. All children born in these regions at 22-31 weeks of gestational age and discharged alive from neonatal intensive care units were eligible (n = 1407). The overall follow-up rate was 83%. Children born to foreign mothers, singletons and those with a slightly higher birth weight were less likely to return for follow-up. The assessment included a paediatric medical visit at 2 years corrected age to identify major neuromotor and sensory disability, a cognitive and behavioural screening carried out by means of a parental questionnaire, and a post-visit telephone interview with the mother. A control group of term-born 2-year-old children was recruited for the parental questionnaire and telephone interview only. The strengths of this study are the population-based approach, the large sample size and the focus on a functional assessment of development. The main limitation is the lack of formal cognitive testing. Follow-up of the cohort at school age will be necessary to obtain a full picture of the growth and development of these children.
KW - cognitive development
KW - follow-up
KW - neurosensorial disability
KW - outcome
KW - preterm
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U2 - 10.1016/j.paed.2009.08.027
DO - 10.1016/j.paed.2009.08.027
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:72049093735
VL - 19
JO - Paediatrics and Child Health (United Kingdom)
JF - Paediatrics and Child Health (United Kingdom)
SN - 1751-7222
IS - SUPPL. 2
ER -