Abstract

ECHANDIA, Carlos Armando  and  RUIZ, Juan Gabriel. Low Apgar score and neonatal seizures: neuromotor development at 1 year age. Colomb. Med. [online]. 2006, vol.37, n.1, pp.21-30. ISSN 1657-9534.

Objective: To assess the putative association between 5 minutes Apgar score, neonatal seizures and neurodevelopmental delay (Infanib test) performed at 1 year of corrected age. Design: Historic cohort. Setting: A first level hospital in Cali, Colombia (1989 to 1997); Subjects came from a low socioeconomic stratum population. Study subjects: A total of 287 infants who completed the 1 year follow up program were included. Interventions: not applicable Main outcome measures: Incidence (cumulative and density) of neuromotor abnormalities (abnormal Infanib test) at 1 year of age. Results: Compliance with program visits was 80%. Thirty nine (13.6%) infants presented low 5 minutes Apgar score. Thirty six (12.5%) infants presented neonatal seizures, associated mainly with neonatal asphyxia and hypoglicemia. Forty seven infants had an abnormal Infanib test (cumulative incidence 16.4% and incidence density 1.3 new cases per 100 infants-year). A significant association between neonatal seizures and an abnormal Infanib was found (RR crude 2.39 IC 95% 1.37-4.16). Low 5 minutes Apgar score is not an effect modifier neither a confounder of the association between neonatal seizures and an abnormal Infanib. Exploring the presence or absence of effect modification only bacterial meningitis, demonstrated a role as confounder for the association between seizures and Infanib results. Conclusions: Both neonatal seizures and bacterial meningitis were independently associated with abnormal Infanib results. Neonatal seizures are not only an important risk factor (adjusted RR = 2.51 IC 95% 1.10-5.72), but an easily identifiable one that can help the physician taking the medical history to identify patients at high risk for neuromotor abnormalities during the first year of life.

Keywords : Infanib test; Neonatal seizures; High-risk infant follow-up; Neurodevelopment.

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