Predictive value of general movements assessment for developmental delay at 18 months in children with complex congenital heart disease

Authors

Darlene C. Huisenga, Advocate Aurora HealthFollow
Sacha la Bastide-van Gemert, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Epidemiology, Groningen, the Netherlands.
Andrew H. Van Bergen, Advocate Aurora HealthFollow
Jane K. Sweeney, Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions, Provo, UT, USA.
Mijna Hadders-Algra, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Paediatrics, Division of Developmental Neurology, Groningen, the Netherlands. Electronic address: m.hadders-algra@umcg.nl.

Recommended Citation

Huisenga DC, la Bastide-van Gemert S, Van Bergen AH, Sweeney JK, Hadders-Algra M. Predictive value of General Movements Assessment for developmental delay at 18 months in children with complex congenital heart disease. Early Hum Dev. 2024;188:105916. doi:10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2023.105916

Affiliations

Advocate Children's Hospital, Oak Lawn

Abstract

Background:Infants with complex congenital heart disease are at increased risk of impaired fetal brain growth, brain injury, and developmental impairments. The General Movement Assessment (GMA) is a valid and reliable tool to predict cerebral palsy (CP), especially in preterm infants. Predictive properties of the GMA in infants with complex congenital heart disease (CCHD) are unknown.

Aim:To evaluate predictive properties of the GMA to predict developmental outcomes, including cerebral palsy (CP), at 18-months corrected age (CA) in children with CCHD undergoing heart surgery in the first month of life.

Methods:A prospective cohort of 56 infants with CCHD (35 males, 21 females) was assessed with GMA at writhing age (0-6 weeks CA) and fidgety age (7-17 weeks CA) and the Bayley Scales of Infant Development at 18 months. GMA focused on markedly reduced GM-variation and complexity (definitely abnormal (DA) GM-complexity) and fidgety movements. Predictive values of GMA for specific cognitive, language and motor delay (composite scores

Results:At fidgety age, all infants had fidgety movements and no child was diagnosed with CP. DA GM-complexity at fidgety age predicted general developmental delay at 18 months (71 % sensitivity, 90 % specificity), but predicted specific developmental delay less robustly. DA GM-complexity at writhing age did not predict developmental delay, nor did it improve prediction based on DA GM-complexity at fidgety age.

Conclusions:In infants with CCHD and fidgety movements, DA GM-complexity at fidgety age predicted general developmental delay.

Type

Article

PubMed ID

38091843