| 1. |
- Morsing, Eva, et al.
(author)
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Neurodevelopmental disorders and somatic diagnoses in a national cohort of children born before 24 weeks of gestation
- 2022
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In: Acta Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics. - : Wiley. - 0803-5253 .- 1651-2227. ; 111:6, s. 1167-1175
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aim: This study investigated childhood diagnoses in children born extremely preterm before 24 weeks of gestation. Methods: Diagnoses of neurodevelopmental disorders and selected somatic diagnoses were retrospectively retrieved from national Swedish registries for children born before 24 weeks from 2007 to 2018. Their individual medical files were also examined. Results: We studied 383 children born at a median of 23.3 (range 21.9–23.9) weeks, with a median birthweight of 565 (range 340–874) grams. Three-quarters (75%) had neurodevelopmental disorders, including speech disorders (52%), intellectual disabilities (40%), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (30%), autism spectrum disorders (24%), visual impairment (22%), cerebral palsy (17%), epilepsy (10%) and hearing impairment (5%). More boys than girls born at 23 weeks had intellectual disabilities (45% vs. 27%, p < 0.01) and visual impairment (25% vs. 14%, p < 0.01). Just over half of the cohort (55%) received habilitation care. The majority (88%) had somatic diagnoses, including asthma (63%) and failure to thrive/short stature (39%). Conclusion: Most children born before 24 weeks had neurodevelopmental disorders and/or additional somatic diagnoses in childhood and were referred to habilitation services. Clinicians should be aware of the multiple health and developmental problems affecting these children. Resources are needed to identify their long-term support needs at an early stage.
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| 2. |
- Hellström, Ann, 1959, et al.
(author)
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Retrospective evaluation of ophthalmological and neurological outcomes for infants born before 24 weeks gestational age in a Swedish cohort
- 2022
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In: Bmj Open. - : BMJ. - 2044-6055. ; 12:8
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objectives To retrospectively evaluate ophthalmological and neurological outcomes in a Swedish cohort of infants born before 24 weeks gestational age (GA) and explore risk factors for visual impairment. Setting Eye and paediatric clinics in Sweden. Participants Infants screened for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) (n=399), born before 24 weeks GA, 2007-2018. Cases were excluded if ophthalmological follow-up records could not be traced. Primary and secondary outcome measures Primary outcomes were ophthalmological, including visual acuity (VA), refractive error, strabismus, nystagmus and cerebral visual impairment (CVI). Secondary outcomes comprised neonatal and neurological morbidities. Data were retrospectively retrieved from medical records. Results The 355 assessed children had a median GA of 23 weeks and 2 days and a median birth weight of 565 g. At the last available ophthalmological examination, the median age was 4.8 years (range 0.5-13.2 years). Nystagmus was recorded in 21.1%, strabismus in 34.8%, and 51.0% wore spectacles. Seventy-three of 333 (21.9%) were visually impaired, defined as being referred to a low vision clinic and/or having a VA less than 20/60 at 3.5 years of age or older. ROP treatment was a significant risk factor for visual impairment (OR 2.244, p=0.003). Visually impaired children, compared with children without visual impairment, more often had neurological deficits such as intellectual disability 63.8% versus 33.3% (p<0.001), epilepsy 21.1% versus 7.5% (p=0.001) and autism spectrum disorders 32.8% versus 20.9% (p=0.043). Nine of the 355 children had been diagnosed with CVI. Conclusions Children born before 24 weeks GA frequently had visual impairment in association with neurological deficits. CVI was rarely diagnosed. A multidisciplinary approach for the evaluation and habilitation of these vulnerable infants is warranted. National follow-up guidelines need to be developed and implemented.
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| 3. |
- Andersson, Ola, 1965-, et al.
(author)
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Elective caesarean : does delay in cord clamping for 30 s ensure sufficient iron stores at 4 months of age? A historical cohort control study
- 2016
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In: BMJ Open. - : BMJ. - 2044-6055. ; 6:11
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To compare iron stores in infants born after elective caesarean section (CS) and a 30 s delay of umbilical cord clamping with those born vaginally after early (≤10 s) or delayed (≥180 s) cord clamping.DESIGN: Prospective observational study with historical control.SETTING: Swedish county hospital.POPULATION: 64 infants born after elective CS were compared with a historical control of 166 early clamped and 168 delayed clamped after vaginal birth.METHODS: Blood and iron status were measured in blood samples collected at birth, 48-96 hours after birth, 4 and 12 months of age.PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Ferritin at 4 months of age was the primary outcome, second outcome measures were other indicators of iron status, and haemoglobin, at 4 and 12 months of age, as well as respiratory distress at 1 and 6 hours after birth.RESULTS: At 4 months infants born by elective CS had better iron status than those born vaginally subjected to early cord clamping, shown by higher adjusted mean difference of ferritin concentration (39 µg/L (95% CI 10 to 60)) and mean cell volume (1.8 fL (95% CI 0.6 to 3.0)); and lower levels of transferrin receptors (-0.39 mg/L (95% CI -0.69 to -0.08)). No differences were seen between infants born after elective CS and delayed clamped vaginally born infants at 4 months. No differences were found between groups at 12 months of age.CONCLUSIONS: Waiting to clamp the umbilical cord for 30 s after elective CS results in higher iron stores at 4 months of age compared with early cord clamping after vaginal birth, and seems to ensure iron status comparable with those achieved after 180 s delayed cord clamping after vaginal birth.
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| 4. |
- Askelöf, U., et al.
(author)
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Wait a minute? : An observational cohort study comparing iron stores in healthy Swedish infants at 4 months of age after 10-, 60- and 180-second umbilical cord clamping
- 2017
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In: BMJ Open. - : BMJ Publishing Group. - 2044-6055. ; 7:12
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background and objective: Umbilical cord blood (UCB) is a valuable stem cell source used for transplantation. Immediate umbilical cord (UC) clamping is widely practised, but delayed UC clamping is increasingly advocated to reduce possible infant anaemia. The aim of this study was to investigate an intermediate UC clamping time point and to evaluate iron status at the age of 4 months in infants who had the UC clamped after 60 s and compare the results with immediate and late UC clamping. Design: Prospective observational study with two historical controls. Setting: A university hospital in Stockholm, Sweden, and a county hospital in Halland, Sweden. Methods: Iron status was assessed at 4 months in 200 prospectively recruited term infants whose UC was clamped 60 s after birth. The newborn baby was held below the uterine level for the first 30 s before placing the infant on the mother's abdomen for additional 30 s. The results were compared with data from a previously conducted randomised controlled trial including infants subjected to UC clamping at ≤10 s (n=200) or ≥180 s (n=200) after delivery. Results: After adjustment for age differences at the time of follow-up, serum ferritin concentrations were 77, 103 and 114 μg/L in the 10, 60 and 180 s groups, respectively. The adjusted ferritin concentration was significantly higher in the 60 s group compared with the 10 s group (P=0.002), while the difference between the 60 and 180 s groups was not significant (P=0.29). Conclusion: In this study of healthy term infants, 60 s UC clamping with 30 s lowering of the baby below the uterine level resulted in higher serum ferritin concentrations at 4 months compared with 10 s UC clamping. The results suggest that delaying the UC clamping for 60 s reduces the risk for iron deficiency. © 2017 Article author(s).
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| 5. |
- Berg, Jenny, et al.
(author)
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Economic Evaluation of Elective Cesarean Section on Maternal Request Compared With Planned Vaginal Birth-Application to Swedish Setting Using National Registry Data
- 2023
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In: Value in Health. - : Elsevier BV. - 1098-3015 .- 1524-4733. ; 26:5, s. 639-648
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objectives: There is a lack of consensus around the definition of delivery by cesarean section (CS) on maternal request, and clinical practice varies across and within countries. Previous economic evaluations have focused on specific populations and selected complications. Our aim was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of CS on maternal request compared with planned vaginal birth in a Swedish context, based on a systematic review of benefits and drawbacks and national registry data on costs.Methods: We used the results from a systematic literature review of somatic risks for long-and short-term complications for mother and child, in which certainty was rated low, moderate, or high using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation. Swedish national registry data were used for healthcare costs of delivery and complications. Utilities for long-term complications were based on a focused literature review. We constructed a decision tree and conducted separate analyses for primi-and multiparous women. Costs and effects were discounted by 3% and the time horizon was varied between 1 and 20 years.Results: Planned vaginal birth leads to lower healthcare costs and somatic health gains compared with elective CS without medical indication over up to 20 years. Although there is uncertainty around, for example, quality-of-life effects, results remain stable across sensitivity analyses.Conclusions: CS on maternal request leads to increased hospitalization costs in a Swedish setting, taking into account short -and long-term consequences for both mother and child. Future research needs to study the psychological consequences related to different delivery methods, costs in outpatient care, and productivity losses.
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| 6. |
- Berggren, Sara, 1987, et al.
(author)
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Serum osteocalcin levels at 4months of age were associated with neurodevelopment at 4years of age in term-born children
- 2022
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In: Acta Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics. - : Wiley. - 0803-5253 .- 1651-2227. ; 111:2, s. 338-345
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aim: The hormone osteocalcin influenced neurodevelopment and cognition in mice models; this human study explored potential associations between total serum levels in human infants and neurodevelopment at 4years of age. Methods: The data were based on two Swedish birth cohorts from 2008 to 2009. We followed 158healthy full-term vaginal births (51% girls) by measuring serum osteocalcin in cord blood and at 4, 12 and 36months. The values were compared with neurodevelopment tests at 4years of age. Results: There was an association between osteocalcin at 4months and later full-scale intelligence quotient (IQ; r2 0.031, p<0.05). Children with osteocalcin levels in the highest quartile scored 5.6 (95% confidence interval [1.3, 9.9]) points higher than those in the lowest quartile, with mean scores of 118.8±8.8 and 113.2±9.2 (p<0.05). They also scored higher on gross motor skills (p<0.05) and showed greater ability during the drawing trail test (p<0.005). Cord levels of osteocalcin were negatively associated with processing speed and fine motor development at 4years, but levels at 12 and 36months were not associated with later neurodevelopment. Conclusion: Osteocalcin levels in infancy appeared to be associated with later IQ and motor development, but more research is needed.
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| 7. |
- Biskop, Emilia, et al.
(author)
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Parental participation during therapeutic hypothermia for neonatal hypoxicischemic encephalopathy
- 2019
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In: Sexual & Reproductive HealthCare. - : ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD. - 1877-5756 .- 1877-5764. ; 20, s. 77-80
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objectives: To examine parental participation in the care of newborn infants receiving therapeutic hypothermia, and to explore the possible impact of in-born vs out-born status, and location of hospital accommodation. Study design: Retrospective, quantitative and descriptive design. Main outcome measures: Infants medical charts were reviewed for defined aspects of parental participation (infant holding, tube feeding, and diaper change), and related to their in-born vs out-born status, and whether the parents were accommodated in the NICU or elsewhere. All infants have been cared for at the University Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, serving as a regional referral center for hypothermia treatment. This study is a part of a population-based regional cohort of asphyxiated newborn infants (n = 112) that received therapeutic hypothermia in 2007-2015. Results: Parents engaged in holding (60/112, 54%) or tube feeding (59/112, 53%) their infant. Parents of inborn infants (24/112, 21%) were more likely to check the placement of the feeding tube (11/24, 46% vs 15/88, 17%; p < 0.01) and change diapers (9/24, 38% vs 14/88, 16%; p < 0.05) than parents of out-born infants (88/112, 79%). A similar pattern of more extensive involvement was observed for both mothers and fathers who stayed at the neonatal intensive care compared to those accommodated elsewhere (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Active parental participation is feasible at the NICU even during therapeutic hypothermia. Timely postnatal transfer of parents of out-born/transported infants, and the provision of on-site accommodation may influence the quality of parental involvement.
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| 8. |
- Bolk, Jenny, et al.
(author)
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National population-based cohort study found that visual-motor integration was commonly affected in extremely preterm born children at six-and-a-half years
- 2018
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In: Acta Paediatrica. - : WILEY. - 0803-5253 .- 1651-2227. ; 107:5, s. 831-837
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aim: This study aimed to explain the relationship between visual-motor integration (VMI) abilities and extremely preterm (EPT) birth, by exploring the influence of perinatal variables, cognition, manual dexterity and ophthalmological outcomes. Methods: This was part of the population-based national Extremely Preterm Infant Study in Sweden (EXPRESS) study. We studied 355 children, born at a gestational age of <27 weeks from April 2004 to March 2007, and 364 term-born controls. At six-and-a-half years of age, we assessed VMI, cognitive function, motor skills and vision. VMI impairment was classified as <-1 standard deviation (SD). Results: The mean (SD) VMI score was 87 (+/- 12) in preterm children compared to 98 (+/- 11) in controls (p < 0.001). VMI impairment was present in 55% of preterm infants and in 78% of children born at 22-23 weeks. Male sex and postnatal steroids showed a weak association with poorer visual-motor performance, whereas low manual dexterity and cognitive function showed a stronger association. Conclusion: Poor VMI performance was common in this EXPRESS cohort of children born EPT. Its strong association to cognition and manual dexterity confirms that all of these factors need to be taken into account when evaluating risks in preterm born children.
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| 9. |
- Bäcke, Pyrola, et al.
(author)
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When all I wanted was to hold my baby-The experiences of parents of infants who received therapeutic hypothermia
- 2021
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In: Acta Paediatrica. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0803-5253 .- 1651-2227. ; 110:2, s. 480-486
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aim The knowledge is limited about how parents experience the time when their infant is receiving therapeutic hypothermia (TH) after severe perinatal asphyxia. The aim of this study was to explore parents' experience of closeness and involvement in their infant's care while in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) with their newborn undergoing TH. Methods Face-to-face, semi-structured interviews were conducted with parents (n = 11) whose infants (n = 8, aged 3-5 years at the time of the study) underwent TH at a level III Swedish NICU during 2013-2016. The interviews were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results All the parents shared the trauma of being both physically and psychologically separated from their infant. They all described a need for information and emotional support, and reported that the NICU staff had influenced the extent to which they as parents had been able to be near and actively participate in the care. Parents described the wish to be closer to their infant and to be more actively involved in their infant's care. Conclusion Strategies to enable parent-infant closeness and active guidance from staff might help alleviate the emotional stress of parents and promote their participation during TH.
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| 10. |
- Chalak, L., et al.
(author)
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Bedside and laboratory neuromonitoring in neonatal encephalopathy
- 2021
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In: Seminars in Fetal & Neonatal Medicine. - : Elsevier. - 1744-165X .- 1878-0946. ; 26:5
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Several bedside and laboratory neuromonitoring tools are currently used in neonatal encephalopathy (NE) to assess 1) brain function [amplitude-integrated electroencephalogram (aEEG) and EEG], 2) cerebral oxygenation delivery and consumption [near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS)] and 3) blood and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers. The aim of the review is to provide the role of neuromonitoring in understanding the development of brain injury in these newborns and better predict their long-term outcome. Simultaneous use of these monitoring modalities may improve our ability to provide meaningful prognostic information regarding ongoing treatments. Evidence will be summarized in this review for each of these modalities, by describing (1) the methods, (2) the clinical evidence in context of NE both before and with hypothermia, and (3) the research and future directions.
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