Longitudinal Motor-Developmental Outcomes in Infants with a Critical Congenital Heart Defect
Maaike C. A. Sprong,
Marco van Brussel,
Linda S. de Vries,
Janjaap van der Net,
Joppe Nijman,
Johannes M. P. J. Breur,
Martijn G. Slieker
Affiliations
Maaike C. A. Sprong
Center of Child Development, Exercise and Physical Literacy, Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3508 AB Utrecht, The Netherlands
Marco van Brussel
Center of Child Development, Exercise and Physical Literacy, Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3508 AB Utrecht, The Netherlands
Linda S. de Vries
Department of Neonatology, Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3508 AB Utrecht, The Netherlands
Janjaap van der Net
Center of Child Development, Exercise and Physical Literacy, Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3508 AB Utrecht, The Netherlands
Joppe Nijman
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3508 AB Utrecht, The Netherlands
Johannes M. P. J. Breur
Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3508 AB Utrecht, The Netherlands
Martijn G. Slieker
Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3508 AB Utrecht, The Netherlands
Infants with critical congenital heart defects (CCHDs) are at increased risk for neurodevelopmental delays. The early identification of motor delays is clinically relevant to prevent or reduce long-term consequences. The current study aims to describe the motor-developmental pathways of infants with a CCHD. Motor development was assessed in 215 infants and toddlers using the Dutch version of the Bayley-III. At 3 months (n = 165), 9 months (n = 188), and 18 months (n = 171) the motor composite scores were 97, 98, and 104, respectively. A motor composite score of ≤−2 SD was only seen in 2.4%, 0%, and 2.3%, respectively, with gross motor deficits being observed more often than fine motor deficits (12% vs. 0% at 18 months). Over 90% of infants who scored average at 9 months still did so at 18 months. The majority of infants with below-average gross motor scores (≤−1) at 9 months still had a below-average or delayed motor score (≤−2 SD) at 18 months. Abnormal gross motor scores (≤−2 SD) increased with age. Infants with single-ventricle physiology performed significantly (p ≤ 0.05) worse on both fine and gross motor skills at 9 and 18 months compared to infants with other CCHDs.
