Morbidity and mortality in 262 infants with birth weight below 1500 g born in Stockholm County 1988-1992.

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between neonatal clinical conditions and the development of senso-motoric handicaps. Two hundred and sixty-two infants with a birth weight < 1500 g, born in or referred to the Karolinska/S:t Göran's Children Hospital from September 1988 to April 1992 were studied prospectively. The total survival was 83%. Preliminary results of the Griffiths' test of these infants showed an average cognitive ability of the same level as for full-terms except for those pre-term infants who had suffered from the combination of chronic lung disease and leukomalacia. The incidence of moderate to severe senso-motoric disability is up to the present time 5%.