Martina Estevam Brom Vieira

Quality of life of individuals born preterm: a systematic review of assessment approaches

PurposeTo review the existing literature regarding factors associated with quality of life (QoL) of individuals who were born preterm. The review focuses on assessment approaches and information sources.MethodsA systematic review of empirical studies published in PubMed, PsycARTICLES, PsycINFO, LILACS, and SciELO databases between 2007 and 2015. Search terms were chosen that relate preterm birth to QoL.ResultsTwenty-two articles were included. Of these, ten investigated QoL in children, six investigated adolescents, and six investigated adults. All studies used generic instruments to assess QoL. There was a high rate of parental report to assess QoL in studies of children. Adolescent and adult studies most often assessed QoL through self-report. Parents of children who were born preterm reported worse QoL for their children compared with parents of children born full term. Teenagers and adults who were born preterm self-reported more positive outcomes in their QoL. The main risk factors associated with worse QoL in children who were born preterm were congenital malformations, mechanical ventilation during the neonatal phase, cognitive impairments, behavioral problems, physical disabilities, low family income, and black race.ConclusionsAgreement between parents and children about QoL in preterm individuals was lower in younger age groups compared with older age groups. The differences in QoL throughout the different age groups may have arisen because of developmental changes or differences in the source of information used (i.e., parent report or self-report). We recommend that QoL assessments in children born preterm should consider both parent report and self-report.

Avaliação do desenvolvimento de bebês nascidos pré-termo: a comparação entre idades cronológica e corrigida

To compare the global and motor development of infants born preterm, regarding the performance in the chronological age and corrected age for prematurity METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study. The sample was comprised of 182 preterm infants ( Comparar o desenvolvimento global e motor de bebes nascidos pre-termo, considerando-se o desempenho das criancas na idade cronologica e na idade corrigida para a prematuridade METODO: O estudo e do tipo corte-transversal. A amostra foi constituida por um total de 182 recem-nascidos pre-termo (

Quality of life in low-risk preterm children at preschool age.

This prospective longitudinal study examined prediction models of quality of life (QoL) in preterm-born individuals at preschool age by considering predictors factors from the neonatal phase (clinical, socioeconomic, and neurobehavioral variables), the first year (developmental variables), and preschool age (clinical, socioeconomic, developmental, and functional variables). The neurobehavioral performance of 24 low-risk preterm-born children was evaluated before reaching term. Psychomotor development was evaluated during their first year. At 5 years, preschoolers’ functionality was assessed and the Child Health Questionnaire-50 Parent Form was used to assess child’s QoL from the perspective of their parents. Children displayed deficits in 7 of 15 domains of the QoL measure. Prediction models indicated that the children’s lower QoL values were associated with the following risk factors: sexually transmitted disease in the mother during gestation, male gender, lengthy hospitalization period after birth, use of corticotherapy, poor alertness and orientation in the neonatal phase, risk in motor development at 4–6 months, respiratory disease, use of medications, history of severe accidents, risk in personal–social behavior, poor social function at preschool age, and low socioeconomic status. In conclusion, the QoL in low-risk preterm children at preschool age could be affected by clinical and developmental risk factors. Thus, the multiple risk factors should be examined in preventive follow-up programs of premature infants.