There has been an increase in prevalence of low severity dysfunctions such as minor neurological dysfunction and cognitive deficits which consequently lead to school and behavior problems. The study presents the outcomes of a small group of preterm children with different medical complications at birth on follow-up at toddler age. In the neonatal period and at three months corrected age the neurological examination by the Amiel-Tison neurological assessment and the assessment of general movements was done. Both measures were compared with the criterion measure Bayley Scales of Infant Development - II. Results of the preterm group were compared with results of the normative group. According to results for both methods of neurological examination, children were classified into different categories meaning optimal or different degrees of non-optimal neurological results. The results of the children from different categories of neurological functioning were compared with the criterion measure. Children from the preterm group attained lower results on the developmental test compared to normative data. Children from groups with the lowest birth weight and gestational age attained the lowest results. These findings suggest that children from less optimal or non-optimal categories according to both methods of neurological examination attained lower developmental scores. The difference between groups was higher on the mental scale than on the motor scale of the developmental test.
F.21 Development of new health/diagnostic methods/procedures
COBISS.SI-ID: 44335714We used SF-36 questionnaire which is predominantely measuring FDH (functioning ,disability and health) components and has 8 different domains. We have found that the adolescents who suffered hypoxic lesion at birth can achieve lower educational level, then their healthy mates-students, owever their own perception od QoL and their self-image are better then those of healthy controls, and they have less unwholesome behaviors.
F.22 Improvement to existing health/diagnostic methods/procedures
COBISS.SI-ID: 374188This is the first report on DTI imaging technique in our country, which was possible only with the cllaborative project with Institute of Brain Research in Zagreb (prof. Ivica Kostović). The slovenian readers became acquainted with the technique and with the results as well with some technical problems.
F.02 Acquisition of new scientific knowledge
COBISS.SI-ID: 373420Background: Hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) during the perinatal periodis a commonly recognized cause of severe, long-term neurological sequelae in children. Milder hypoxia- ischaemia can lead to minor disabilities, which can manifest only later with age-specific cognitive abilities and demands. Methods: We have used prospective, observational study of an inception cohort of 16 adolescents, who had neonatal HIE, compared to a gender- and age-matched control of 16 healthy medical students. Our cohort wasselected from the Slovenian population of neonates, referred to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at the University Medical Centre Ljubljana, due to mild and moderate HIE, Sarnat stage 1 and 2. HIE was confirmed by generallyaccepted criteria. We estimated the self-assessed health-related quality of life by using SF-36v2 questionnaire, Rosenberg self-esteem inventory and Unwholesome behaviour questionnaire. Results: Our study included16 adolescents with HIE, 7 girls (43.8 %) and 9 boys (56.3 %), who were born at a mean gestational age of 35.75 weeks (SD = 3.80) and mean birthweight of 2644g (SD = 815), which represents 50th percentile. Mean age was 21.69 years (SD = 0.87). Adolescents with a history of HIE reported a higher number of additional morbidity yet with a good quality of life. Health-related quality of life was rated high: for adolescents with HIE M = 81.9 (SD = 11.2) and for healthy adolescents M = 75.3 (SD = 11.,5); p = 0.112.The adolescents with HIE odsodid not differ from the healthy adolescentsin self-esteem (p = 0.68) and unwholesome behaviours, except for over-eating (p = 0.01). Conclusions: Based on our data of higher morbidity, wepropose that children with mild to moderate HIE, even when discharged as healthy, should be subject to a follow-up. They develop compensatory strategies, which enable them to have a good quality of life. We can hope thattheir compensatory strategies, rather than becoming insufficient when theyreach adulthood, will enable them to have a high quality of life.
F.02 Acquisition of new scientific knowledge
COBISS.SI-ID: 207020