LATE ADOLESCENT/YOUNG ADULT OUTCOME OF VERY LOW BIRTHWEIGHT

本研究的主要目的是延长1977年和1978年出生的极低出生体重儿童的随访时间，以检查极低出生体重及其后遗症对生长发育、健康、社会心理发展和个人功能以及父母家庭关系的影响。我们计划测量生长和血压，并对大约24名极低出生体重者和350名正常出生体重者进行问卷调查。研究队列将每年随访3年。假设是，在成年早期，与正常出生体重对照和VLBW兄弟姐妹队列相比，VLBW受试者：1)将在生长方面表现出追赶，但体重指数将显著下降；2)在健康方面表现出显著差异，包括呼吸道症状较多、平均血压较低、体育活动参与度较低；3)对成年早期的适应能力明显较差，表现为较少的成就和较低的学业/职业抱负；心理社会发展较差；个体功能较差；药物滥用、多动症和犯罪的报告增多，人际关系也变差。1977年队列的安排进展顺利，共有137名受试者入组（访谈）。

The major objective of this study is to extend the follow-up of very low birthweight children born in the years 1977 and 1978 to examine the impact of very low birthweights and its sequelae on growth attainment, health, psychosocial development and individual functioning and parent family relationships. We plan to measure growth and blood pressure and administer questionnaires to approximately 24 very low birthweights and 350 normal birthweight controls. The study cohort will be followed yearly for 3 years. The hypotheses are that at young adulthood, when compared to the normal birthweight controls and cohort of VLBW siblings, VLBW subjects: 1) will demonstrate catch-up in growth but will have a significantly decreased body mass index; 2) will manifest significant differences in health including more respiratory symptoms, lower mean blood pressure and poorer participation in physical activities; 3) will demonstrate significantly poorer adaptation to early adulthood, signified by less achievement and lower academic/career aspirations; poorer psychosocial developments; poorer individual functioning; higher reports of substance abuse, ADHD and delinquency, and poorer interpersonal relationships. Scheduling of the 1977 cohort has gone well and 137 subjects have been enrolled (interviewed).