LATE ADOLESCENT/YOUNG ADULT OUTCOME OF VERY LOW BIRTHWEIGHT

本研究的主要目的是对1977年和1978年出生的极低出生体重儿进行随访，以检查极低出生体重及其后遗症对生长发育、健康、心理社会发展、个人功能和父母家庭关系的影响。 假设在成年早期，与正常出生体重对照组和VLBW同胞队列相比，VLBW受试者：1）将表现出生长追赶，但体重指数显著降低; 2）将表现出健康方面的显著差异，包括更多的呼吸道症状、较低的平均血压和较差的体育活动参与; 3）对成年早期的适应能力明显较差，表现为成就较低，学术/职业抱负较低;心理社会发展较差;个人功能较差;药物滥用，ADHD和犯罪的报告较多，人际关系较差。

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. 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.