A Study of General Movement Assessment and Its Association With Neurodevelopmental Outcome at Age 12 to 15 Months Among Term Neonates With Hyperbilirubinemia

Objective To determine the association between optimality score at term age and 3-to 5-month age with neurodevelopmental outcome among neonates with hyperbilirubinemia. Methods Fifty infants with and without hyperbilirubinemia were enrolled. The motor repertoires of the infants were evaluated through general movement analysis (GMA) at term age and 3-5 months post-term. The association between the General Movement Optimality Score (GMOS), Motor Optimality Score (MOS), and Development Assessment scale for Indian Infants (DASII) at 12-15 months of age was also assessed. Results During term age, the median GMOS was significantly lower among infants in the study group as compared to the control group [40 (29-42) vs 42 (42-42), p <0.001]. However, at 3-5 months of age, there was no significant difference between the groups. Significantly higher number of neonates had abnormal motor repertoire at term age and 3-5 months of age in the study group as compared to the control group [18 (36%) vs 2 (4%), p 0.001 at term age and 6 (12.2%) vs 1 (2%), p 0.04 at 3-5 months of age]. Among neonates with hyperbilirubinemia, the median GMOS and MOS were significantly lower at term age and 3-5 months of age in infants with motor and mental DQ scores <85 as compared to ≥ 85. Conclusions GMA including GMOS and MOS performed in neonates with hyperbilirubinemia during the neonatal period and early infancy is associated with neurodevelopmental outcomes in the first year of life. GMA can help initiate early intervention in such neonates.