Low birth weight babies at 3 years of age.

The findings of the first 3 years of a 7-year follow-up study on a group of 331 infants born at or transferred to Hammersmith and Queen Charlotte's Maternity Hospitals weighing 500-2000 g are reported. The group included 37 stillbirths, and a further 76 died. Of the 218 survivors, some information has been available on 215 (99%); 94% and 84% were seen at 2 and 3 years respectively. Nine (4%) children have major and 13 (6%) a moderate handicap, including 11 (5%) with cerebral palsy, seven (4%) with developmental delay, three with severe hearing impairment and one with visual impairment. Mild iatrogenic damage was common. The children, particularly those who were small for their gestational age, were shorter and lighter than the normal population at 3 years, but when corrected for prematurity the difference, particularly in height, was insignificant.