Outcome studies of low birth weight infants published in the last decade: A metaanalysis

doi:10.1016/S0022-3476(89)80273-2

The Journal of Pediatrics

Volume 115, Issue 4, October 1989, Pages 515-520

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3476(89)80273-2 Get rights and content

We conducted a metaanalysis and methods review of 80 studies, published in the last decade, that explored the outcome of low birth weight infants; 27% involved infants whose birth weights were ≤2500 gm (low birth weight), 44%≤1500 gm (very low birth weight), and 29% ≤1000 gm (extremely low birth weight). Problems found in these studies were grouped into three categories: subject and methods issues, environmental factors, and outcome measurement. The combined average intelligence quotient/developmental quotient (IQ/DQ) of all low birth weight groups was 97.77 (SD 6.19); for control subjects the mean IQ/DQ was 103.78 (SD 8.16). This difference was statistically significant but perhaps not clinically significant. No differences in mean IQ/DQ scores were found among the low birth weight, very low birth weight, and extremely low birth weight subgroups. Statistically significant differences among all groups and control subjects were found when categoric data were analyzed, as were differences among the three subgroups; however, the variety of outcome criteria makes interpretation of the categoric analyses difficult.

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Special articleOutcome studies of low birth weight infants published in the last decade: A metaanalysis

The low birthweight infant: evolution of changing outlook

N Engl J Med

Mortality and morbidity in very low birthweight infants

Pediatr Ann

Outcome for infants of very low birthweight: survey of world literature

Lancet

Changing outcome over 13 years of very low birthweight infants

Semin Perinatol

Neurodevelopmental and school performance of very low-birth-weight infants: a seven year longitudinal study

Pediatrics

School performance of children with birth weights of 1000 g or less

Am J Dis Child

Classroom performance and social factors of children with birth weights of 1250 grams or less: follow-up at 5 to 8 years of age

Pediatrics

Preschool performance of children with normal intelligence who were very low-birth-weight infants

Pediatrics

Issues in prediction and developmental follow-up

J Dev Behav Pediatr

The quality of medical literature: an analysis of validation assessments

Primary, secondary and meta-analysis of research

Educ Res

Meta-analysis in social research

Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences

Four-Factor Index of Social Status: working paper

Impairment, disability, and handicap

Child Care Health Dev

Special article
Outcome studies of low birth weight infants published in the last decade: A metaanalysis