ObjectiveTo explore the role of qualitative general movements (GMs) assessment for follow-up in high risk infants.

MethodsHigh risk infants followed up in outpatient department of child health care were selected and evaluated by GMs assessment in writhing movements and fidgety movements period.The neuropsychological developmental scale for children aged 0-6 years was used to determine whether there was cerebral palsy, developmental delay and developmental deviation by combining with clinical diagnosis.The patients were followed up for more than 12 months.The predictive validity of GMs assessment was calculated.

ResultsThe follow up results of 160 high risk infants showed that cerebral palsy in 11 cases (6.9%), developmental delay in 32 cases (20.0%), developmental deviation in 58 cases (36.3%), normal development in 59 cases (36.8%) were found.The predictive validity of GMs assessment for neurodevelopmental abnormality in the writhing movements period was as follows:sensitivity 73.27%, specificity 55.93%, positive predictive value74.00%, and negative predictive value 55.00%.The predictive validity of GMs assessment for neurodevelopmental abnormality in the fidgety movements period was as follows:sensitivity 16.83%, specificity 100.00%, positive predictive value 100.00%, and negative predictive value 41.26%.

ConclusionGMs assessment combined with the neuropsychological developmental scale for children aged 0-6 years and long-term follow-up can help to predict neurological outcome of high risk infants, and guide the early intervention in high risk infants, which is worth promoting.