Results at age 8 years of early intervention for low-birth-weight premature infants. The Infant Health and Development Program

C. M. McCarton, J. Brooks-Gunn, I. F. Wallace, C. R. Bauer, F. C. Bennett, J. C. Bernbaum, R. S. Broyles, P. H. Casey, M. C. McCormick, D. T. Scott, J. Tyson, J. Tonascia and C. L. Meinert
Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.

OBJECTIVE: To reevaluate at age 8 years children who had participated during the first 3 years of life in a randomized clinical trial of special services for low-birthweight (LBW) premature infants. DESIGN: Follow-up of a randomized controlled trial of premature infants (< or = 37 weeks' gestation), stratified by 2 LBW groups (lighter [< or = 2000 g] and heavier [2001-2500 g]) and divided into intervention (n=377) and follow-up only (n=608) groups. SETTING: Eight sites serving diverse populations. PARTICIPANTS: At age 8 years, 874 children were assessed: 336 in the intervention group and 538 in the follow-up only group. INTERVENTION: The 3-year intervention consisted of home visits (birth to 3 years), child development center services (ages 1 to 3 years), and parent group meetings (ages 1 to 3 years). PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Cognitive functioning (Weschler Intelligence Scale for Children-III; Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Revised); academic achievement (Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement-Revised); and parental reports of school performance, behavior (Child Behavior Checklist), and health (Child General Health Survey). RESULTS: At age 8 years, in the entire cohort and in the lighter LBW stratum, the intervention and follow-up only groups were similar on all primary outcome measures. Differences favoring the intervention group were found within the heavier LBW group: full-scale IQ score (4.4 points higher, P=.007), verbal IQ score (4.2 points higher, P=.01), performance IQ score (3.9 points higher, P=.02), mathematics achievement score (4.8 points higher, P=.04), and receptive vocabulary score (6.7 points higher, P=.001). On a physical functioning subscale, the whole intervention group received less favorable ratings, while the lighter LBW intervention group had lower maternal ratings assessing social limitations caused by behavior. CONCLUSION: Although at age 8 years there were modest intervention-related differences in the cognitive and academic skills of heavier LBW premature children, attenuation of the large favorable effects seen at 3 years was observed in both the heavier and lighter LBW groups. This indicates a need to develop additional intervention strategies for LBW premature children that can provide sustained benefits.

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Role of the Medical Home in Family-Centered Early Intervention Services
Council on Children With Disabilities
Pediatrics 2007;120:1153-1158.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Reducing Premature Infants' Length of Stay and Improving Parents' Mental Health Outcomes With the Creating Opportunities for Parent Empowerment (COPE) Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Program: A Randomized, Controlled Trial
Melnyk et al.
Pediatrics 2006;118:e1414-e1427.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Behavioural and emotional problems in very preterm and very low birthweight infants at age 5 years
Reijneveld et al.
Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2006;91:F423-F428.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Child outcome measures in the study of child care quality.
Zaslow et al.
Eval Rev 2006;30:577-610.
ABSTRACT  

Impact of Prenatal and/or Postnatal Growth Problems in Low Birth Weight Preterm Infants on School-Age Outcomes: An 8-Year Longitudinal Evaluation
Casey et al.
Pediatrics 2006;118:1078-1086.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Quality-of-Care Indicators for the Neurodevelopmental Follow-up of Very Low Birth Weight Children: Results of an Expert Panel Process.
Wang et al.
Pediatrics 2006;117:2080-2092.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Associations of Maternal Age- and Parity-Related Factors With Trends in Low-Birthweight Rates: United States, 1980 Through 2000
Yang et al.
Am. J. Public Health 2006;96:856-861.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Early Intervention in Low Birth Weight Premature Infants: Results at 18 Years of Age for the Infant Health and Development Program
McCormick et al.
Pediatrics 2006;117:771-780.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Progress in Improving the Development of Low Birth Weight Newborns
Olds
Pediatrics 2006;117:940-941.
FULL TEXT  

Factors Associated With Neurodevelopmental Outcome at 2 Years After Very Preterm Birth: The Population-Based Nord-Pas-de-Calais EPIPAGE Cohort
Fily et al.
Pediatrics 2006;117:357-366.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Video and CD-ROM as a Training Tool for Performing Neurologic Examinations of 1-Year-Old Children in a Multicenter Epidemiologic Study
Kuban et al.
J Child Neurol 2005;20:829-831.
ABSTRACT  

Randomised trial of parental support for families with very preterm children: outcome at 5 years
Johnson et al.
Arch. Dis. Child. 2005;90:909-915.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Developmental and Functional Outcomes at School Age of Preschool Children With Global Developmental Delay
Shevell et al.
J Child Neurol 2005;20:648-654.
ABSTRACT  

Outcomes for Extremely Low-Birth-Weight Infants: Disappointing News
Tyson and Saigal
JAMA 2005;294:371-373.
FULL TEXT  

Pediatricians' Reported Practices Regarding Developmental Screening: Do Guidelines Work? Do They Help?
Sand et al.
Pediatrics 2005;116:174-179.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Long term effects of a home visit to prevent childhood injury: three year follow up of a randomized trial
King et al.
Inj. Prev. 2005;11:106-109.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Early Predictors of Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder and School Difficulties in Low-Birthweight, Premature Children
Deutscher and Fewell
Topics in Early Childhood Special Education 2005;25:71-79.
ABSTRACT  

Prevalence, Stability, and Predictors of Clinically Significant Behavior Problems in Low Birth Weight Children at 3, 5, and 8 Years of Age
Gray et al.
Pediatrics 2004;114:736-743.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Neurocognitive outcome after very preterm birth
Marlow
Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2004;89:F224-F228.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Contributions of Early Language and Maternal Facilitation Variables to Later Language and Reading Abilities
Fewell and Deutscher
Journal of Early Intervention 2004;26:132-145.
ABSTRACT  

Effects of low income on infant health
Seguin et al.
CMAJ 2003;168:1533-1538.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Pediatricians' Reported Practices Regarding Early Education and Head Start Referral
Silverstein et al.
Pediatrics 2003;111:1351-1357.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Long-term Cognitive Function in Very Low-Birth-Weight Infants
Strathearn
JAMA 2003;289:2209-2209.
FULL TEXT  

Health Care Utilization and Expenditures Associated With Child Care Attendance: A Nationally Representative Sample
Silverstein et al.
Pediatrics 2003;111:e371-375.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Change in Cognitive Function Over Time in Very Low-Birth-Weight Infants
Ment et al.
JAMA 2003;289:705-711.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Outcomes Research in Pediatric Settings: Recent Trends and Future Directions
Forrest et al.
Pediatrics 2003;111:171-178.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Cognitive and Behavioral Outcomes of School-Aged Children Who Were Born Preterm: A Meta-analysis
Bhutta et al.
JAMA 2002;288:728-737.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Comparison of Skin-to-Skin (Kangaroo) and Traditional Care: Parenting Outcomes and Preterm Infant Development
Feldman et al.
Pediatrics 2002;110:16-26.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Practice parameter: Neuroimaging of the neonate: Report of the Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology and the Practice Committee of the Child Neurology Society
Ment et al.
Neurology 2002;58:1726-1738.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Contributions of Receptive Vocabulary and Maternal Style: Variables to Later Verbal Ability and Reading in Low-Birthweight Children
Fewell and Deutscher
Topics in Early Childhood Special Education 2002;22:181-190.
ABSTRACT  

Early Parent Training to Prevent Disruptive Behavior Problems and Delinquency in Children
BERNAZZANI et al.
The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 2001;578:90-103.
ABSTRACT  

A Woman With an Extremely Premature Newborn
Richardson
JAMA 2001;286:1498-1505.
FULL TEXT  

Childhood Neglect and Cognitive Development in Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants: A Prospective Study
Strathearn et al.
Pediatrics 2001;108:142-151.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

One-Year Outcome of Auditory-Tactile-Visual-Vestibular Intervention in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: Effects of Severe Prematurity and Central Nervous System Injury
Nelson et al.
J Child Neurol 2001;16:493-498.
ABSTRACT  

From Molecules to Mind: Stress, Individual Differences, and the Social Environment
McEwen
Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 2001;935:42-49.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Role of the Pediatrician in Family-Centered Early Intervention Services
Committee on Children With Disabilities
Pediatrics 2001;107:1155-1157.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Functional Limitations and Special Health Care Needs of 10- to 14-Year-Old Children Weighing Less Than 750 Grams at Birth
Hack et al.
Pediatrics 2000;106:554-560.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Neurodevelopmental and Functional Outcomes of Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants in the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network, 1993-1994
Vohr et al.
Pediatrics 2000;105:1216-1226.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Hawaii's Healthy Start Program of Home Visiting for At-Risk Families: Evaluation of Family Identification, Family Engagement, and Service Delivery
Duggan et al.
Pediatrics 2000;105:250-259.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

The Etiology and Outcome of Cerebral Ventriculomegaly at Term in Very Low Birth Weight Preterm Infants
Ment et al.
Pediatrics 1999;104:243-248.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Influence of the Home Environment on the Development of Obesity in Children
Strauss and Knight
Pediatrics 1999;103:85e-85.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Positive Effects of Prenatal and Early Childhood Interventions
Earls
JAMA 1998;280:1271-1273.
FULL TEXT  

Cognitive Outcome at 41/2 Years of Very Low Birth Weight Infants Enrolled in the Multicenter Indomethacin Intraventricular Hemorrhage Prevention Trial
Ment et al.
Pediatrics 1998;102:159-159.
FULL TEXT  

Utilization of Well-child Care Services for African-American Infants in a Low-income Community: Results of a Randomized, Controlled Case Management/Home Visitation Intervention
Schuster et al.
Pediatrics 1998;101:999-1005.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Survival and Developmental Disability in Infants With Birth Weights of 501 to 800 Grams, Born Between 1979 and 1994
O'Shea et al.
Pediatrics 1997;100:982-986.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

EARLY INTERVENTION FOR PREMATURE INFANTS: RESULTS AFTER EIGHT YEARS
JWatch General 1997;1997:5-5.
FULL TEXT