Compared outcomes of very preterm infants born in 2000 and 2005

Aim: To compare neonatal and 2-year outcomes in very premature infants born 5 years apart. Methods: Prospective observational study of infants born before 33 weeks gestation in 2000 or 2005 admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit in France. We collected perinatal data and evaluated motor, cognitive, neurosensory and behavioural outcomes at 2 years of age. Results: We included 170 infants in 2000 and 173 in 2005. The significant differences in neonatal outcomes were decreases in postnatal corticosteroid use and in percentage of infants with head circumference below the 3rd percentile on days 7 (25% vs. 13%) and 30 (30% vs. 17%). At 2 years of age, rates of follow-up were 87% in 2000 and 94% in 2005. The cerebral palsy rate was 6% in both cohorts. The overall rate of motor disabilities diminished from 30% (41/137) to 18% (26/142), and the rate of mild motor disabilities decreased from 24% to 12%. Rates of cognitive, behavioural and neurosensorial impairments were similar. Conclusion: Between 2000 and 2005, motor impairments at 2 years of age diminished in very preterm children (but not cerebral palsy rates). We observed a reduced use of postnatal corticosteroids and a decreased percentage of neonates with head circumference below the third percentile.