Abstract
There are abundant data about postnatal medical problems and complications of very low birth weight infants. However, there are few data about medical problems during the first 5 years of life. We were interested in chronical medical problems and how many children needed surgery until pre-school-age. The data of VLBW children will be compared to a national cohort (KIGGS). As part of a multicentre study in Germany (GNN, starting 2009) VLBW infants are followed up at 5 years of age. Parents were asked whether their children suffered from any chronical medical problems or received any surgery after initial discharge from hospital. 267 children participated until the time of data analysis. VLBW children born in 2009 with and without follow up were comparable regarding gestational age, birth weight, incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia and intraventricular haemorrhage. More than 90% of the parents of former VLBW children reported a good or very good health. Half of the children suffered from chronic bronchitis. Seizures were reported more frequently, while allergic diseases were reported less frequently compared to the national cohort. More than half of the former VLBW children needed surgery until 5 years of age. Surgery for inguinal hernia was most frequently performed followed by hearing tubes. Surgery due to hydrocephalus or abdominal surgery after necrotizing enterocolitis was necessary in 6% of the VLBW children. Only a circumcision was performed less frequently in VLBW children compared to the national cohort. Even though parents report a good a very good health of their children former VLBW infants suffered from numerous medical problems. Half of the children had chronic bronchitis, every second child needed some kind of surgery, every fourth child needed surgery for inguinal hernias. While hearing tubes were more frequently necessary, fewer circumcisions were done in former VLBW infants compared to the national cohort.
Translated title of the contribution | Chronical medical problems and surgical interventions of very low birth weight infants in Germany until the age of five years |
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Original language | German |
Journal | Padiatrische Praxis |
Volume | 86 |
Issue number | 2 |
Pages (from-to) | 215-225 |
Number of pages | 11 |
ISSN | 0030-9346 |
Publication status | Published - 2016 |