Longitudinal, 15-year follow-up of children born at less than 29 weeks' gestation after introduction of surfactant therapy into a region: neurologic, cognitive, and educational outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To measure the primary and secondary school-age neurologic, cognitive, and educational outcomes in a cohort of extremely premature infants born after the introduction of exogenous surfactant therapy in a circumscribed region.
METHODS: Two hundred thirteen infants born at <29 weeks' gestation were cared for at a regional referral center during 1985-1987. At primary school age, neurologic and cognitive outcomes, educational achievement, school placement, health status, and socioeconomic status were determined by follow-up visit. At secondary school age, school placement and health status were evaluated by telephone interview.
RESULTS: One hundred thirty-two infants survived to school age, of whom 127 (96%) were evaluated in 1992-1995 and 126 (95%) were evaluated in 2000. Mean ages were 7.0 years at first follow-up and 14.1 years at second follow-up. At primary-school age follow-up, 19 children (15%) had cerebral palsy, 24 (19%) had a general cognitive index <70, and 41 (32%) were placed in a self-contained, special classroom. Thirty-nine children (31%) had no physical or educational impairment, whereas 27 (21%) had at least 1 severe disability. At secondary school age, cerebral palsy incidence remained unchanged, whereas 36 children (29%) were placed in a special classroom. Fifty-one children (41%) had no physical or educational impairment, whereas 24 (19%) had at least 1 severe disability. Neonatal intraventricular hemorrhage and low socioeconomic status were the strongest predictors of adverse outcomes.
CONCLUSIONS: Premature infants born in the surfactant era remain at high risk of neurodevelopmental compromise. Although many of these children do well, a significant minority will require intensive special educational services through secondary school age.