Neurodevelopmental outcomes at eighteen months of age in infants with congenital heart disease

Objective To analyze the neurodevelopmental outcome and its risk factors in infants with CHD at 18 months of age. Methods Eighteen-month-old infants with CHD at the follow-up clinic of our hospital were selected. The Bayley scales of infant development(BSID) were used to evaluate the levels of mental development(MDI) and psychomotor development(PDI). The clinical features during hospitalization were reviewed, and the risk factors of MDI and PDI were analyzed. Results A total of 116 children with CHD underwent BSID evaluation at 18 months of age. Both the MDI(95.38±22.98) and PDI(87.84±22.57) of the cohort were significantly lower than the average value of the normal population(P<0.05). In infants with cyanotic CHD, the MDI was higher(β=17.218). The longer the length was of the hospital stay, the lower the PDI(β=-0.577). In patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass surgery, the PDI was higher(β=11.956). Compared to infants with relatively normal behavior, the PDI of infants with mild behavioral problems was lower(β=-10.605). Conclusion Children with CHD who underwent cardiac surgery have delayed neurodevelopmental outcomes compared with those of healthy children. The outcomes of infants with cyanotic CHD or undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass surgery was better than others. Long hospital stays and mild behavioral problems were risk factors for poor neurodevelopmental outcomes. Key words: Heart surgery; Congenital heart disease; Infants; Neurodevelopment; Outcomes