Long-term motor outcomes of very preterm and/or very low birth weight individuals without cerebral palsy: A review of the current evidence

Kari Anne I Evensen; Tordis Ustad; Marjaana Tikanmäki; Peija Haaramo; Eero Kajantie

doi:10.1016/j.siny.2020.101116

Long-term motor outcomes of very preterm and/or very low birth weight individuals without cerebral palsy: A review of the current evidence

Semin Fetal Neonatal Med. 2020 Jun;25(3):101116. doi: 10.1016/j.siny.2020.101116. Epub 2020 May 20.

Authors

Kari Anne I Evensen¹, Tordis Ustad², Marjaana Tikanmäki³, Peija Haaramo⁴, Eero Kajantie⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway; Department of Public Health and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway; Unit for Physiotherapy Services, Trondheim Municipality, Trondheim, Norway; Department of Physiotherapy, Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: karianne.i.evensen@ntnu.no.
² Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway; Department of Clinical Services, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway.
³ PEDEGO Research Unit, MRC Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Public Health Promotion Unit, Helsinki, Oulu, Finland.
⁴ Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Public Health Promotion Unit, Helsinki, Oulu, Finland.
⁵ Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway; PEDEGO Research Unit, MRC Oulu, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland; Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Public Health Promotion Unit, Helsinki, Oulu, Finland; Children's Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.

PMID: 32461044
DOI: 10.1016/j.siny.2020.101116

Abstract

We reviewed literature on long-term motor outcomes of individuals aged five years or older born very preterm (VP: ≤32 weeks of gestation) or with very low birth weight (VLBW: ≤1500g), without cerebral palsy (CP). PubMed produced 2827 articles, whereof 38 were eligible. Assessed by standardised and norm-based motor tests, the Movement Assessment Battery for Children being the most widely used, VP/VLBW individuals showed poorer motor skills compared with term-born controls with differences of approximately 1 SD in magnitude. Some studies assessed subdomains and differences were present in fine motor/manual dexterity, ball skills and gross motor/balance. Prevalence of motor problems varied largely from 8-37% in studies with cut-off at the 5th percentile or -1.5 SD to 12-71% in studies with cut-off at the 15th percentile or -1 SD. This review shows that the degree of motor impairments continues to be substantial among VP/VLBW individuals who do not develop CP.

Keywords: Fine motor; Gross motor; Motor problems; Motor skills; Premature birth; Preterm; Very low birth weight.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Cerebral Palsy
Child
Child, Preschool
Global Health
Humans
Infant, Extremely Premature*
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Premature, Diseases / diagnosis
Infant, Premature, Diseases / epidemiology
Infant, Premature, Diseases / etiology*
Infant, Very Low Birth Weight*
Motor Skills
Motor Skills Disorders / diagnosis
Motor Skills Disorders / epidemiology
Motor Skills Disorders / etiology*
Risk Factors
Young Adult