Outcome of very-low-birth-weight infants at 1 and 2 years of age. The importance of early identification of neurodevelopmental deficits.

The developmental and neurologic outcome of very-low-birth-weight infants (n=76) at 1 and 2 years, corrected for postconceptional age, and variables predicting outcome were assessed. At 1 year 24% of tile children were neurologically normal and at 2 years 61%. Developmental status was evaluated by use of the Griffiths Developmental Scales. The rate of cognitively normal children remained constant (58% at 1 year and 59% at 2 years) indicating that developmental status at 1 year was predictive for the second year. This early period is important, therefore, for the identification of developmental deficits and for establishing early, adequate interventions.