Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is a common complication in preterm infants and is related to neurodevelopmental outcomes. Infants with severe IVH are at higher risk of adverse neurological outcomes and death, but the effect of low-grade IVH remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of different degrees of IVH on mortality and neurodevelopmental outcomes in very preterm infants. METHODS: Preterm infants with a gestational age of <30 weeks admitted to neonatal intensive care units were included. Cerebral ultrasound was examined repeatedly until discharge or death. All infants were followed up to 18-24 months of corrected age. The impact of different grades of IVH on death and neurodevelopmental disability was assessed by multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 1,079 preterm infants were included, and 380 (35.2%) infants had grade I-II IVH, 74 (6.9%) infants had grade III-IV IVH, and 625 (57.9%) infants did not have IVH. The mortality in the non-IVH, I-II IVH, and III-IV IVH groups was 20.1, 19.7, and 55.2%, respectively (p < 0.05), and the incidence of neurodevelopmental disabilities was 13.9, 16.1, and 43.3%, respectively (p < 0.05), at 18-24 months of corrected age. After adjusting for confounding factors, preterm infants with III-IV IVH had higher rates of cerebral palsy [26.7 vs. 2.4%, OR = 6.10, 95% CI (1.840-20.231), p = 0.003], disability [43.3 vs. 13.9%, OR = 2.49, 95% CI (1.059-5.873), p = 0.037], death [55.2 vs. 20.1%, OR = 3.84, 95% CI (2.090-7.067), p < 0.001], and disability + death [73.7 vs. 28.7%, OR = 4.77, 95% CI (2.518-9.021), p < 0.001] compared to those without IVH. However, the mortality and the incidence of neurodevelopmental disability in infants with I-II IVH were similar to those without IVH (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Severe IVH but not mild IVH increased the risk of mortality and neurodevelopmental disability in very preterm infants.