[Growth and development of very-low-birth-weight infants].

Of 291 very-low-birth-weight (less than 1,500 g) premature infants treated during the years 1983-6, 178 (61.2%) survived. Of these, 103 (57.9%) were reexamined between 1 and 2 years of corrected age. 67% were functioning at normal level, 23.3% were mildly to moderately affected, while 9.7% showed severe delay or handicap. Factors significantly associated with development were clinical course and neurological sequelae during hospitalization, and the quality of the parent-infant relationship. There was no significant association between development and sex, multiple gestation, birthweight relative to gestational age, socioeconomic status of family, and attendance at the follow-up clinic. Birth-weight was a significant factor correlated with development by the chi-square test but not by stepwise multiple regression analysis. Growth parameters (weight, length, and head circumference) were associated with birth-weight. Our ability to modify the factors associated with development may improve the outcome of very-low-birth-weight infants.