We examined data collected prospectively on 151 infants born before 37th week of gestation in 2009-2010 who were assessed at 6 months corrected age with the Bayley Scales of Infant Development¡ª2nd Edition (BSID-II) and the Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST).
Of 151 neonates born before 37 weeks, 20 (13.2 % ) had MNDs at 6 months corrected age. These proportions were 21.6 % , 13.2 % , and 8.2 % for neonates born before 28 weeks, 29 weeks to 32 weeks, and 33 weeks to 36 weeks, respectively. Half of neonates with MNDs have a birth body weight of less than 1000 g. BSID-II and DDST are highly correlated in assessing the MNDs of premature neonates at 6 months corrected age. MND was independently associated with postnatal corticosteroid use (odds ratio [OR], 11.2; 95 % confidence interval [CI], 1.9-66.0, P = 0.008) and cholestasis (OR, 6.2; 95 % CI, 1.16-33.1, P = 0.033).
Premature neonates, even those born at 33 to 36 weeks, are found to have MNDs as early as 6 months corrected age by BSID-II and DDST, with risk increasing as gestation decreases.