Nursery Neurobiologic Risk Score and outcome at 18 months.

The aim of this study was to confirm the predictive value of the nursery Neurobiologic Risk Score. Prospectively, 121 infants (mean birthweight 961 +/- 179 g, gestation 27.0 +/- 1.2 weeks) were followed at 18 months. The nursery Neurobiologic Risk Score was correlated to the developmental quotient (r = -0.54). From low (scores 0-4), to moderate (scores 5-7) to high (scores > or = 8) risk groups, respectively, significant differences were found in mean developmental quotient (101 +/- 9 vs 92 +/- 19 vs 76 +/- 24) and in prevalence of developmental quotients < 90 (12 vs 24 vs 71%), of cerebral palsy (4 vs 19 vs 41%), of severe disabilities (0 vs 24 vs 50%) and of any disability (16 vs 30 vs 71%). Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values for any disability were 81, 54, 49 and 84% for a score > or = 5 and 56, 87, 71 and 78% for a score > or = 8. The nursery Neurobiologic Risk Score was useful in predicting 18 months outcome of very premature infants.