Aim: To compare two regionally defined extremely low birth weight (ELBW) populations for visual and hearing problems at 10 years of age. Subjects: All lifeboms with birth weight 500-999 g born 1983 in NL (prevalence 1.69%.) and 1983-85 in CH (prev.1.64%).

Methods: Infants were recruited in the year of birth in both countries and followed up regularly. In NL 98% of survivors were examined at 5 years, in CH 60% of survivors were examined in Lausanne or Zurich at 4 or 5 and at 7 to 9 years. Eye and ear status was assessed by questionnaire to parenta at 10 years in both countries. Response rate in NL was 71%, in CH 97%. Missing data were completed with information from previous exams. Table

Table 1
Full size table

Conclusion: Visual problems are highly prevalent in ELBW survivors in the Netherlands and in Switzerland, whereas hearing problems are less prevalent. In both countries girls survived more often than boys and the surviving boys have more visual problems and get more often speech therapy than girls.