Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36683126›Full record

ArticleDevelopmental medicine and child neurology2023

Diagnostic accuracy of the Hammersmith Neonatal Neurological Examination in predicting motor outcome at 12 months for infants born very preterm.

Grace T Howard, Emmah Baque, Paul B Colditz, Mark D Chatfield, Robert S Ware, Roslyn N Boyd, Joanne M George

Open access · hybridAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Developmental medicine and child neurology, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
8.1field-weighted citation impact, top 3% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 14 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. A Systematic Review of Neurodevelopmental Tools for Preterm Infants During Infancy: Mapping the Components Across Infant Age Quarters.Indian journal of community medicine : official publication of Indian Association of Preventive & Social Medicine · 2025
    Review
  4. Article
  5. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Grace T HowardSchool of Health Sciences and Social Work, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-8218-1690
Emmah BaqueSchool of Health Sciences and Social Work, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-9659-5859
Paul B ColditzUniversity of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-6408-8238
Mark D ChatfieldQueensland Cerebral Palsy and Rehabilitation Research Centre, Child Health Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-0004-6274
Robert S WareMenzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-6129-6736
Roslyn N BoydQueensland Cerebral Palsy and Rehabilitation Research Centre, Child Health Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-4919-5975
Joanne M GeorgeQueensland Cerebral Palsy and Rehabilitation Research Centre, Child Health Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-4893-6564
The University of Queensland · AUGriffith University · AU

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimTo evaluate the predictive validity of the Hammersmith Neonatal Neurological Examination (HNNE) performed early (at 32 weeks postmenstrual age) and at term-equivalent age (TEA) for 12-month motor outcomes in infants born very preterm.

methodThis was a diagnostic study using data from a prospective birth cohort. A total of 104 infants born preterm at less than 31 weeks gestational age (males n = 61; mean = 28 weeks 1 day [SD 1 week 6 days], range 23 weeks 1 day-30 weeks 6 days) underwent HNNE early and at TEA, which were scored by comparison with term data. Motor outcomes at 12 months corrected age were determined using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (scores ≤85). Cut-off points were determined using receiver operating characteristic curves.

resultsSixteen (15%) infants born preterm had motor impairment at 12 months corrected age. The HNNE total score cut-off points with the best combination of sensitivity and specificity at early and TEA assessments were 15.2 or lower (sensitivity 77%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 46%-95%; specificity 74%, 95% CI = 63%-83%) and 23.5 or lower (sensitivity 67%, 95% CI = 38%-88%; specificity 66%, 95% CI = 54%-76%) respectively. The most predictive subscale at the early assessment was reflexes (sensitivity 86%, 95% CI = 57%-98%; specificity 62%, 95% CI = 51%-72%; cut-off point ≤3); at TEA, it was spontaneous movements (sensitivity 73%, 95% CI = 45%-92%; specificity 60%, 95% CI = 48%-70%; cut-off point ≤2).

interpretationThe HNNE provides moderate predictive accuracy for motor outcome at 12 months corrected age in infants born very preterm. Although modest at both time points, early assessment had stronger predictive ability for motor outcomes than TEA when scored using term data, highlighting the value of performing the HNNE earlier in the neonatal period. Performing HNNE earlier may assist risk stratification when planning follow-up services.

Indexed as

Child DevelopmentInfant, Extremely PrematureFemaleGestational AgeHumansInfantInfant, NewbornMaleNeurologic ExaminationProspective Studies

Identifiers

PMID36683126
PMCPMC10952202
OpenAlexW4317779783

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.