%0 Journal Article %1 French1995 %A French, N. P. %A Parry, T. S. %A Evans, S. %D 1995 %J Med J Aust %K Cerebral Palsy; Cohort Studies; Disabled Persons; Female; Follow-Up Humans; Infant Mortality; Infant, Low Birth Weight; Newborn; Male; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome; Prospective Survivors; Western Australia %N 6 %P 295--6, 298-9 %T Improving outcome for Western Australian infants with birthweights 500-999 g. %V 162 %X OBJECTIVE: To assess changes in survival and disability in liveborn extremely low birthweight infants (500-999 g) in Western Australia, 1980-1987. DESIGN: Cohort study comparing two periods, 1980-1983 (P1) and 1984-1987 (P2). PARTICIPANTS: All 586 liveborn extremely low birthweight infants in WA in 1980-1987 (266 in P1, 320 in P2). MAIN VARIABLES EXAMINED: Birthweight, place of birth, age at death, neurosensory examination findings and scores on the Griffiths Mental Development Scales or other standardised test results. RESULTS: 482/586 infants (82\%) were born at King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH), a level III referral centre, and a further 4\% were transferred there after birth. The proportion born at KEMH increased from 78\% in P1 to 86\% in P2. Survival increased from 35\% to 43\% overall. In those below 800 g birthweight, survival doubled from 14\% to 29\%. There was no change in the age at death for non-survivors. Follow-up information was known for 222 of the 229 survivors at median ages of 46 months (P1) and 43 months (P2). Disability rates in infants below 800 g birthweight remained static (P1, 26\%; P2, 28\%), but fell in those of 800-999 g birthweight from 24\% to 13\%. Overall, survival free of disability increased from 26\% to 34\%. CONCLUSION: Increased survival rates occurred without any increase in the rate or severity of disability in survivors.

@article{French1995, abstract = {OBJECTIVE: To assess changes in survival and disability in liveborn extremely low birthweight infants (500-999 g) in Western Australia, 1980-1987. DESIGN: Cohort study comparing two periods, 1980-1983 (P1) and 1984-1987 (P2). PARTICIPANTS: All 586 liveborn extremely low birthweight infants in WA in 1980-1987 (266 in P1, 320 in P2). MAIN VARIABLES EXAMINED: Birthweight, place of birth, age at death, neurosensory examination findings and scores on the Griffiths Mental Development Scales or other standardised test results. RESULTS: 482/586 infants (82\%) were born at King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH), a level III referral centre, and a further 4\% were transferred there after birth. The proportion born at KEMH increased from 78\% in P1 to 86\% in P2. Survival increased from 35\% to 43\% overall. In those below 800 g birthweight, survival doubled from 14\% to 29\%. There was no change in the age at death for non-survivors. Follow-up information was known for 222 of the 229 survivors at median ages of 46 months (P1) and 43 months (P2). Disability rates in infants below 800 g birthweight remained static (P1, 26\%; P2, 28\%), but fell in those of 800-999 g birthweight from 24\% to 13\%. Overall, survival free of disability increased from 26\% to 34\%. CONCLUSION: Increased survival rates occurred without any increase in the rate or severity of disability in survivors.}, added-at = {2014-07-19T19:29:03.000+0200}, author = {French, N. P. and Parry, T. S. and Evans, S.}, biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/27ec588a0d3d057c24f81948e35110d52/ar0berts}, groups = {public}, interhash = {3967bddc8f21aeb1d6f01f995129fd97}, intrahash = {7ec588a0d3d057c24f81948e35110d52}, journal = {Med J Aust}, keywords = {Cerebral Palsy; Cohort Studies; Disabled Persons; Female; Follow-Up Humans; Infant Mortality; Infant, Low Birth Weight; Newborn; Male; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome; Prospective Survivors; Western Australia}, month = Mar, number = 6, pages = {295--6, 298-9}, pmid = {7715490}, timestamp = {2014-07-19T19:29:03.000+0200}, title = {Improving outcome for Western Australian infants with birthweights 500-999 g.}, username = {ar0berts}, volume = 162, year = 1995 }