Predictors of neurodevelopmental outcomes at 12 months in term newborns with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy

The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of different predictors and establish an effective prediction of the prognosis of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). The general information, cerebral computed tomography (CT) imaging, Apgar scores, and NBNA score were collected from 42 term newborn infants with HIE and 80 normal infants. The Bayley Scale of Infant Development was used to evaluate the levels of mental, motor and behavior of infants. The mental developmental index (MDI) and behavioral rating of normal infants were significantly higher than those of HIE group (P<0.05), while such differences were not noted in psychomotor developmental index (PDI). Significant correlations were found between MDI and PDI scores and some items of the behavioral rating. The HIE infants with severe CT degree were associated with markedly lower PDIs when compared with the normal infants and the infants with mild CT degree (P<0.05). For the NBNA scores, significant differences of MDI were noted both in the case and control groups (P<0.01). HIE significantly influenced the progression of mental, psychomotor and behavioral in infants. Cranial CT could be considered as a reliable index for helping to establish the prognosis of HIE.