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Neurodevelopmental outcomes of very low birth weight infants with neonatal sepsis: systematic review and meta-analysis

Journal of Perinatology volume 33, pages 558–564 (2013)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To study the impact of neonatal sepsis on the long-term neurodevelopmental outcome in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants.

STUDY DESIGN:

Systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies comparing neurodevelopmental outcomes in VLBW infants exposed to culture-proven sepsis in the neonatal period with similar infants without sepsis.

RESULT:

Seventeen studies involving 15 331 infants were included in the meta-analysis. Sepsis in VLBW infants was associated with an increased risk of one or more long-term neurodevelopmental impairments (odds ratio (OR) 2.09; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.65 to 2.65) including cerebral palsy (CP; OR 2.09; 95% CI 1.78 to 2.45). Heterogeneity (I2=36.9%; P=0.06) between the studies was significant and related to variations in patient characteristics, causative pathogens and follow-up methods. Sensitivity analyses based on study design, follow-up rate and year of birth were not significantly different from the overall analysis.

CONCLUSION:

The meta-analysis suggests that sepsis in VLBW infants is associated with a worse neurodevelopmental outcome including higher incidence of CP.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada

    B Alshaikh & R Sauve

  2. Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada

    B Alshaikh, K Yusuf & R Sauve

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  1. B Alshaikh
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Correspondence to B Alshaikh.

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Alshaikh, B., Yusuf, K. & Sauve, R. Neurodevelopmental outcomes of very low birth weight infants with neonatal sepsis: systematic review and meta-analysis. J Perinatol 33, 558–564 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2012.167

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2012.167

Keywords

  • sepsis
  • long-term neurodevelopmental outcome
  • cerebral palsy
  • premature infants

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