Neurodevelopmental outcomes at age 3 years of preterm infants born at 22–31 weeks’ gestation

Objective: To evaluate neurodevelopmental outcomes of very preterm infants by gestational age (GA) using high follow-up rate data. Study design: This secondary analysis included infants born before 32 weeks’ gestation in 2012–2014 from the Improvement of NICU practices and Team Approach Cluster randomized controlled Trial (INTACT). The primary outcome was survival without moderate or severe neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI). Results: Among 2722 infants, NICU survival rate was 96.5%, ranging 72.1–99.6% at 22–31 weeks. At age three years, 2336 (89.5% of 2610 survivors) were completely assessed; 303 had moderate NDI and 183 had severe NDI. Of these, the proportions of infants surviving without NDI increased with GA; 45.2% at 22 weeks, 57.5% at 23 weeks, 88.1% at 31 weeks. Conclusion: Although survival without NDI varied by GA, more than half (55.0%, 83/151) of infants born at 22–23 weeks who survived to age three years were without neurodevelopmental sequelae.