Early markers of neurodevelopmental disorders based on general movements for very preterm infants: study protocol for a multicentre prospective cohort study in a clinical setting in China
Jun Wang,
Yin Wang,
Xiaoyun Zhu,
Hong Yang,
Zhihua Li,
Xiushu Shen,
Shuyi Liang,
Furong Wu,
Xinglu Tang,
Xujie Mao,
Minsi He,
Fengdan Xu,
Xueyan Li,
Chengmei Li,
Shuangshuang Qian,
Fanzhe Meng,
Yun Wu,
Herong Gao,
Jiayan Cao,
Huanhuan Yin,
Yanxiang Huang
Affiliations
Jun Wang
Department of Rehabilitation, Children’s Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
Yin Wang
Clinical Trial Unit, Children’s Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
Xiaoyun Zhu
Department of Rehabilitation, Children’s Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
Hong Yang
Ganzhou Institute of Medical Imaging, Ganzhou Key Laboratory of Medical Imaging and Artificial Intelligence, Medical Imaging Center, Ganzhou People`s Hospital, Ganzhou Hospital-Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Ganzhou, People`s Republic of China
Zhihua Li
Department of Neonatology, Children’s Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
Xiushu Shen
Department of Rehabilitation, Children’s Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
Shuyi Liang
Department of Rehabilitation, Xiamen Children’s Hospital, Xiamen, China
Furong Wu
Department of Rehabilitation, Xiamen Children’s Hospital, Xiamen, China
Xinglu Tang
Department of Rehabilitation, Taizhou Women and Children’s Hospital, Taizhou, China
Xujie Mao
Department of Neonatology, Yueqing People’s Hospital, Yueqing, China
Minsi He
Department of Rehabilitation, Panyu Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Guangzhou, China
Fengdan Xu
Department of Neonatology, Dongguan Children’s Hospital, Dongguan, China
Xueyan Li
Department of Rehabilitation, Dehong People’s Hospital, Dehong, China
Chengmei Li
Department of Rehabilitation, Dehong People’s Hospital, Dehong, China
Shuangshuang Qian
Department of Neonatology, Wenzhou Central Hospital, Wenzhou, China
Fanzhe Meng
Department of Rehabilitation, Children’s Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
Yun Wu
Department of Rehabilitation, Children’s Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
Herong Gao
Department of Rehabilitation, Children’s Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
Jiayan Cao
Department of Rehabilitation, Children’s Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
Huanhuan Yin
Department of Rehabilitation, Children’s Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
Yanxiang Huang
Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
Introduction Very preterm (VPT) infants may experience varying degrees of neurodevelopmental challenges. Lack of early markers for neurodevelopmental disorders may delay referral to early interventions. The detailed General Movements Assessment (GMA) could help us to identify early markers for VPT infants at risk of atypical neurodevelopmental clinical phenotype in the very early stage of life as soon as possible. Preterm infants with high risk of atypical neurodevelopmental outcomes will have the best possible start to life if early precise intervention in critical developmental windows is allowed.Methods and analysis This is a nationwide, multicentric prospective cohort study that will recruit 577 infants born <32 weeks of age. This study will determine the diagnostic value of the developmental trajectory of general movements (GMs) at writhing and fidgety age with qualitative assessment for different atypical developmental outcomes at 2 years evaluated by the Griffiths Development Scales-Chinese. The difference in the General Movement Optimality Score (GMOS) will be used to distinguish normal (N), poor repertoire (PR) and cramped sychronised (CS) GMs. We plan to build the percentile rank of GMOS (median, 10th, 25th, 75th and 90th percentile rank) in N, PR and CS of each global GM category and analyse the relationship between GMOS in writhing movements and Motor Optimality Score (MOS) in fidgety movements based on the detailed GMA. We explore the subcategories of the GMOS list, and MOS list that may identify specific early markers that help us to identify and predict different clinical phenotypes and functional outcomes in VPT infants.Ethics and dissemination The central ethical approval has been confirmed from the Research Ethical Board of Children’s Hospital of Fudan University (ref approval no. 2022(029)) and the local ethical approval has been also obtained by the corresponding ethics committees of the recruitment sites. Critical analysis of the study results will contribute to providing a basis for hierarchical management and precise intervention for preterm infants in very early life.Trial registration number ChiCTR2200064521.
