Archives of Disease in Childhood 2009;94:298-302
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Developmental coordination disorder in "apparently normal" schoolchildren born extremely preterm
1 Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
2 School of Womens and Childrens Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
Dr K Lui, Department of Newborn Care, Royal Hospital for Women, Barker Street, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia 2031; kei.lui{at}sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au
Aims: To determine the prevalence of developmental coordination disorder (DCD) in "apparently normal" extremely premature (<29 weeks) or extremely low birthweight (<1000 g) schoolchildren at 8 years of age and whether motor skill assessments at an earlier age could predict DCD.
Method: From a neonatal intensive care unit cohort, 50 of the 53 eligible children (IQ >84 and without disabilities at age 5 and residing in Sydney metropolitan) and full-term classroom controls matched for gender and age were assessed with the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC) at school. Previous Griffiths Scales (1 and 3 years) and Peabody Motor Scales (3 and 5 years) results were evaluated for prediction.
Results: The prevalence of DCD (MABC impairment scores >1 SD below the norm) was significantly higher in the study group than controls (42% vs 8%, respectively), and severe DCD (scores >1.5 SD) was also significantly higher (30% vs 0%). DCD was independently associated with prolonged rupture of membranes and retinopathy of prematurity but not with parental education or occupation. Motor assessment using Peabody Fine Motor Scales at 3 years with a cut-off of <27th centile was the best predictor of DCD (areas under curve 78%).
Conclusions: Apparently normal high-risk infants are at risk of motor dysfunction into their school years. Most of these could be identified at age 3.
Register for free content
The full back archive is now available for all BMJ Journals. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006 right back to volume 1 issue 1. Register here to access the free archive of all BMJ Journals.
Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.



