results show that babies born extremely prematurely may have a
wide range of cognitive or physical impairment The follow-up
results of a major study1 into babies born extremely prematurely
published today in the New England Journal of Medicine conclude
that cognitive and neurologic impairment is common although the
levels vary widely. EPICure is the first study in the UK that
has followed a group of babies born extremely prematurely at 25
or fewer weeks gestation in 1995 and assessed them at 2½ and 6½
years of age. The 2½ year assessment published in 20002 showed
that of the 302 surviving babies available for follow-up, 50%
had no disabilities, 25% had some level of disability and 25%
had severe disability. This new element of EPICure followed 241
of the surviving children at early school age and assessed them
at an average age of six years and four months. Very detailed
medical and psychological testing took place and 160 classmates
born at full term served as a comparison group rather than using
standardize