Neurodevelopmental Screening Outcome of Saudi Infants with Hypoxic-ischemic Encephalopathy at Age of Twelve Months Using Bayley Infant Neurodevelopmental Screener

Objective: The study’s primary aim is to evaluate the neurodevelopmental outcomes of infants with Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE), assessed at the age of 12 months by Bayley Infants Neurodevelopmental Screener (BINS). The secondary outcome is to examine the possible association between abnormalities on brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and the scores on BINS. Design: retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data. Setting: the neonatal follow up program at King Khalid university hospital. Subjects: All inborn infants, who were born between 2014 to 2018, with moderate to severe HIE and managed with Therapeutic Hypothermia (TH). Interventions: BINS assessment at the age of 12 months. Main outcome measures: comparisons between survivors and nonsurvivors based on BINS scores, and examination of potential association of hypoxic ischemic changes in MRI studies with the results of BINS. Results: 48 infants received the diagnosis of moderate to severe HIE; 8 of them (17%) expired before discharge. 16 infants (40%) have completed the study assessment; of them, 62% were at low risk for future neurodevelopmental delay, and 38% were at moderate to high risk for future neurodevelopmental delay. Hypoxic ischemic changes observed on MRI studies were found in 33.3% of patients with moderate to high-risk BINS scores, and in 20% of patients with low-risk scores.