The Nursery Neurobiologic Risk Score (NBRS) has been shown to correlate with developmental outcomes in infants with birth weight less than 1500 gm.(Brazy et al., J Pediatr,1991). We determined whether the NBRS will correlate with developmental outcome specifically in EBLW preterm infants. Infants(n=370) born between January 1993 and December 1995, with birth weight less than 1000gm were studied. 246 (66%) of 370 infants survived; in 143 infants developmental outcome is known. Mean birth weight was 762.7 gm and mean gestational age was 27.7 weeks. 69% of the infants were male. 50% had bronchopulmonary dysplasia or were oxygen dependent at 36 weeks postconceptional age. 9% had severe intraventricular hemorrhage and 5% had periventricular leukomalcia. Mean corrected age at most recent follow-up assessment was 21 months (12-36 months). 19% of these infants continued to have poor growth (weight and height less than 5th percentile) and 20% had microcephaly. Of those tested using the Bayley Scales II, 26% had Mental Developmental Index (MDI) less than 70; 30% had Psychomotor Developmental Index (PDI) less than 70. 15% had cerebral palsy (CP). The incidence of major neurodevelopmental deficits significantly increased with high NBRS as shown in the table below. We conlude that in the ELBW infants, the NBRS correlates highly with long-tem outcome and is a useful global indicator of neonatal risk factors and medical status.

Table 1 No caption available.
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