Background Preterm birth is a risk factor for a child’s neurological development. Preterm children have unusual neurodevelopmental profiles with executive, visual-motor functions, fine and gross motor skills, language and behavior that affect learning. In this study, we analyzed the neurodevelopmental outcomes of a cohort of very low birth weight infants admitted to the Treviso Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) between 2014 and 2016 and followed up to preschool childhood. Method This is a prospective cohort study. Infants were followed at birth and after NICU discharge at two- and four-year follow-ups. The two-year assessment was conducted with Bayley III, and at four years with the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence - III scales and Movement Assessment Battery for Children − 2. Results The cohort consisted of 207 subjects with a mean gestational age of 28.9 weeks, and a mean birth weight of 1097.2 g. At two years of age, children without disabilities were 90 (59.6%), those with minor disabilities 47 (31.1%), and those with major disabilities 14 (9.3%); at four years, 58.4% of children without previous disabilities, presented problems with verbal tests and manual dexterity: aiming, grasping and balance at movement assessment. There was significant alteration in processing speed (p < 0.001). Furthermore, there was a strong correlation between processing speed and manual dexterity (p < 0.001) and between processing speed and aiming and grasping (p = 0.0059). Conclusions We found that more than half the children free of disability at two years, at four years had deficit often involving the oculo-motor coordination and processing speed. These motor profile alterations limit the expression of cognitive abilities and the achievement of expected school performance, thus resulting in behavioral disorders, typical of preterm children. Early professional follow-up could improve the expected educational outcomes.

Background. Preterm birth is a risk factor for a baby’s neurological development. Preterm children have unusual neurodevelopmental profiles with executive, visual-motor functions, fine and gross motor skills, language and behavior that affect learning. To analyze the neurodevelopmental trajectory of a cohort of very low birth weight infants (VLBWIs) admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) between 2014 and 2016, followed until pre-school age. Method. This is an observational cohort study. Infants were followed at birth and after NICU discharge at two- and four-year follow-ups. The two-year assessment was conducted with Bayley III, and at four years with the WPSSI and ABC Movement two scales. Results. The cohort consisted of 207 subjects with a mean gestational age (GA) of 28.9 (SD 2.6) weeks, and a mean birth weight of 1097.2 (SD 281.7) grams. At two years, children without disabilities were 90 (59.6%), those with mild disabilities 47 (31.1%), and those with moderate disabilities 14 (9.3%); at four years, 58.4% of children without previous disabilities, presented problems with verbal tests (WPSSI-ICV) and manual dexterity (MD): aiming and grasping (ME) and balance (E) at mABC2. There was significant alteration in processing speed (IVE) (p < 0.001). Further, there was a strong correlation between IVE and DM (correlation = 0.47 p < 0.001) and between IVE and ME (correlation=0.27, p = 0.0059). Conclusions. With pre-school neurodevelopmental assessment, given our cohort of ex-VLBWIs, we found more than half the children free of disability at two years, as they had presented a deficit that often involves oculo-motor coordination and processing speed.