Predictors of Development in Preterm and Full-Term Infants: A Model for Detecting

In a prospective study, the cognitive, language, and motor development of 80 very low birth weight infants (< 1,501 grams) was compared with that of 68 full-term infants, matched on social class, sex, parity, and maternal age. When the scores were not corrected for the degree of prematurity, the pre-term infants, with the exception of the SGA (small-for-gestational age) singletons, had significantly lower cognitive (Bayley MDI), language (Reynell), and motor (Bayley PDI) scores at 2 years of age. When the scores were corrected for prematurity, only the motor development scores of the preterm AGA (appropriate-for-gestational age) group were lower than those of the full-term group. Using a system of demographic, perinatal, and reproductive variables, the cognitive, motor, and language development of these infants at 2 years could be predicted with a high degree of accuracy, and infants with delayed development could be detected. Factors important in predicting developmental functioning and delay included socioeconomic status, parental educational level, maternal cigarette smoking, number o