Effect of bronchopulmonary dysplasia on early intellectual development in preterm infants

Background The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) on the early intellectual development of preterm infants. Methods From 2011 to 2015, 83 preterm infants diagnosed with BPD were recruited to the BPD group, and 89 preterm infants without BPD and 98 healthy term infants were randomly recruited to the non‐BPD and term group, respectively. Neural and intellectual development according to the Gesell Development Scale were evaluated and compared between groups at 0–3 months, 3–6 months, 6–9 months, and 9–12 months of adjusted age for preterm infants and real age for term infants. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the associations between BPD and adverse neurological outcomes at 9–12 months of adjusted age. Results Compared with term infants, preterm infants had significantly lower developmental quotients for adaptability, gross motor, fine motor, language and social skills. At follow up, deficits in one or more neurofunctions related to adaptability, gross motor, fine motor, language and social skills were significantly more frequent in preterm children with BPD than in those with no history of BPD. BPD was independently associated with adverse neurological outcome at 9–12 months of adjusted age in preterm infants. Conclusions Early intelligence disturbances occurred significantly more frequently in BPD infants than in non‐BPD infants. Monitoring of the development of the nervous system in BPD infants should be strengthened.