Longitudinal Analyses of the Psychosocial Sequelae of VLBW and BPD, Phases 1-3

These high risk conditions are significant predictors of major pediatric developmental problems and place a disproportionate burden of disability on educational and societal resources. The impact of this research and clinical knowledge gained from this study are sizeable, both theoretically and clinically. That is, the challenges faced by families of children with VLBW and BPD illness are not unlike those of other child chronic illnesses and disabilities and as such, information can be generalized to other chronic illnesses. . This study examined of how bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and very low birthweight (VLBW), relative to other medical, neurologic and sociodemographic risk factors, impact cognitive, language, neuropsychological, pulmonary, and behavioral outcomes from birth through 14 years of age. VLBW and BPD births are on the rise in the United States, with more than 62,000 infants born with VLBW and more than 11,000 with BPD annually. Despite increased incidence of BPD and VLBW, there have been few comprehensive longitudinal studies of the health, psychosocial, and long term outcomes of such children. In addition, small sample sizes, the absence of adequate control groups, the lack of regional samples, the failure to control for drug exposure, and the lack of psychosocial assessments limit the conclusions that can be made from prior research.