Neurodevelopment at 24 Months of Age of Children Born Preterm with Congenital Heart Disease.

Newborns with congenital heart disease (CHD) and preterm newborns are at high risk for morbi-mortality. However, the extent to which CHD affects long-term outcomes, especially neurodevelopment, in preterm newborns remains unclear. Retrospective case control matched study. Preterm infants (< 37 weeks of gestation) born with CHD between January 2013 and December 2022 included in the LIFT cohort and followed up at 24 months (n = 35) were matched by gender, gestational age, year and place of birth and parental socio-professional status (n = 132). Severe to moderate neurodevelopmental impairment (NI) was more frequent for patients born preterm with CHD at 24 months of age (12/35 (34.29%) vs. 16/132 (12.9%); p = 0.0073). In univariate analysis, unfavorable socio-economic level (OR 2.12, 95% CI [1.07, 4.18]), presence of CHD (OR 3.52, 95% CI [1.47, 8.43]) and duration of invasive ventilation (OR 1.08, 95% CI [1.02–1.15]) were associated with NI at 24 months in preterm infants. After multivariate analysis, duration of ventilation was the unique risk factor associated with late NI (OR 1.14, 95% CI [1.04, 1.24]). Preterm infants with CHD are at higher risk of NI compared to a similar preterm population without CHD, especially regarding motor function. Longer invasive ventilation duration was associated with NI.