Objective: Infants born at extremely low gestational ages are at high risk for developmental impairments. Early predictors of these impairments are useful for both clinicians and researchers. Our objective was to assess the correlation between the rate of brain wave maturation as measured by serial amplitude-integrated electroencephalograms (aEEGs) and scores on standardized measures of infant development in extremely low gestational age neonates.
Study design: This was a prospective observational study of 65 infants born before 28 weeks' gestational age who were assessed with an aEEG monthly between 28 and 36 weeks' postmenstrual age and with the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-III at 18 to 22 months adjusted age. We analyzed the correlation between the rate of brain wave maturation on aEEG and Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-III Cognitive and Motor Scales.
Result: The mean rate of brain wave maturation was 0.83 (±0.36) points per week. Brain wave maturation was not correlated with either the Cognitive or Motor Scale (adjusted regression coefficients for Cognitive and Motor Scales were 1.61 (s.e.: 4.20; P=0.70) and 2.39 (s.e.: 4.62; P=0.61), respectively.
Conclusion: Among extremely preterm infants, the rate of maturational changes in brain wave characteristics between 28 and 36 weeks' postmenstrual age is not predictive of developmental abilities at 18 to 22 months adjusted age.