324 A Neurobehavioral Intervention and Assessment Program in very Low Birth Weight Infants; Outcome at 5 Years of Corrected Age

Background We carried out a RCT to evaluate the effect of the Infant Behavioral Assessment and Intervention Program (IBAIP) in 176 VLBW infants. This post discharge intervention program was given until 6 months CA. Positive intervention effects were found on mental outcome at 6 and on motor outcome at 6, 24, and 44 months. Aim To evaluate the effect of the IBAIP in VLBW infants on cognitive, neuromotor, and behavioral development at 5.5 years CA. Methods Development was assessed using the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI-III-NL), the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC-2), the Developmental Test of Visual Motor Integration (VMI), a neurological examination, and the Strength and Difficulties questionnaire (SDQ). Results Sixty-nine VLBW children in the intervention and 67 VLBW children in the control group participated at 5.5 years CA (response rate 77.3%). Some important social and perinatal risk factors were at the disadvantage of the intervention group. Verbal and performance IQ-scores Conclusions The IBAIP leads to improvement in intelligence, ball skills and visual-motor integration at 5.5 years CA.