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ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: Long-term outcomes of preterm infants have been extensively studied, but few studies have examined long-term outcomes of term infants who require neonatal intensive care
unit (NICU). Our objectives were to assess perinatal characteristics and health status of preschool age term babies using data from a population-based study of NICU graduates. STUDY DESIGN:
Retrospective cross-sectional survey. All babies were born in 1996 to 1997 in BC (Canada). The Health Status Classification System Preschool (HSCS-PS) questionnaire was completed by parents
at 42 months of age. HSCS-PS was grouped in four categories (neurosensory, learning, motor and quality of life). Logistic regression was used to identify perinatal risk factors associated
with moderate/severe problems at 42 months of age. RESULT: Completed surveys were received for 261 term NICU survivors and 393 control children. Term infants represent 32% of all NICU
admissions. Mean birth weight of NICU graduates was 3458 g (s.d.=600 g). Median length-of-stay in NICU was 5 days. At 42 months, the NICU group had significantly more problems on the HSCS-PS
as compared to the full-term healthy infants in neurosensory, motor and learning/remembering. Moderate/severe health status problems were associated with congenital anomalies (odds ratio
(OR), 3.2; confidence interval (CI): 1.3 to 7.8); smoking status (OR, 2.7, CI: 1.1 to 6.6) and SNAP score (OR, 1.04; CI: 1.0 to 1.1). CONCLUSION: Term babies admitted to NICUs may have
significant health issues in childhood. Greater attention needs to be paid to long-term outcomes of term NICU graduates. Further study is warranted to address which NICU term survivors
warrant secondary and/or tertiary-level neurodevelopmental follow-up. Access through your institution Buy or subscribe This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
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about institutional subscriptions * Read our FAQs * Contact customer support SIMILAR CONTENT BEING VIEWED BY OTHERS NEURODEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME OF PRETERM VERY LOW BIRTH WEIGHT INFANTS
ADMITTED TO AN ITALIAN TERTIARY CENTER OVER AN 11-YEAR PERIOD Article Open access 11 August 2021 THE RELATIONSHIP OF NEURODEVELOPMENTAL IMPAIRMENT TO CONCURRENT EARLY CHILDHOOD OUTCOMES OF
EXTREMELY PRETERM INFANTS Article 23 March 2021 HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE AT AGE 10 YEARS IN CHILDREN BORN EXTREMELY PRETERM Article 17 May 2024 REFERENCES * Aylward GP, Pfeiffer SI,
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mail surveys published in medical journals. _J Clin Epidemiol_ 1997; 50(10): 1129–1136. Article CAS Google Scholar Download references ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Hospital for Sick Children
Foundation (Toronto) provided an operating grant for this study. Veronica Schiariti was the recipient of a trainee award from the Neonatal-Perinatal Interdisciplinary Capacity Enhancement
(NICE) Team, which was funded by Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). From British Columbia Research Institute, Veronica Schiariti holds a Graduate Studentship. Anne Klassen holds
a New Investigator Award from CIHR and a Scholar Award from Michael Smith Foundation for Research. We thank the Canadian Neonatal Network. AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS *
Department of Pediatrics, Sunny Hill Health Centre, British Columbia Children's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada V Schiariti, J S Houbé & A Synnes *
Department of Health Care and Epidemiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada V Schiariti * Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada A F
Klassen * Department of Pediatrics, Centre for Health Innovation and Improvement, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada J S Houbé, A Synnes & S Lisonkova * Integrated
Centre for Care Advancement through Research, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada S K Lee Authors * V Schiariti View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed
Google Scholar * A F Klassen View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * J S Houbé View author publications You can also search for this author
inPubMed Google Scholar * A Synnes View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * S Lisonkova View author publications You can also search for this
author inPubMed Google Scholar * S K Lee View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar CORRESPONDING AUTHOR Correspondence to V Schiariti. RIGHTS AND
PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Schiariti, V., Klassen, A., Houbé, J. _et al._ Perinatal characteristics and parents' perspective of health
status of NICU graduates born at term. _J Perinatol_ 28, 368–376 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2008.9 Download citation * Received: 29 August 2007 * Revised: 18 December 2007 *
Accepted: 04 January 2008 * Published: 21 February 2008 * Issue Date: May 2008 * DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2008.9 SHARE THIS ARTICLE Anyone you share the following link with will be
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initiative KEYWORDS * neonatal intensive care unit * term birth * outcomes * health status * neonatology