Title
Is attrition bias a problem in neonatal follow-up?
Author
Hille, E.T.M.
den Ouden, A.L.
Stuifbergen, M.C.
Verrips, G.H.W.
Vogels, A.G.C.
Brand, R.
Gravenhorst, J.B.
Verloove-Vanhorick, S.P.
TNO Kwaliteit van Leven
Publication year
2005
Abstract
Aim: To assess whether attrition rate influences outcome in the follow-up of very preterm infants. Study design: In a national follow-up study of infants born alive in 1983 in the Netherlands with a gestational age less than 32 weeks and/or a birth weight less than 1500 g, outcome was assessed separately for adolescents who responded early or late to a follow-up invitation at age 14 years. Neonatal data and outcome results of earlier assessments from early and late responders were compared to those of non-responders by univariate and nominal (polytomous logistic) regression analysis. Subjects: There were 723 (76%) early responders, 130 (14%) late responders and 109 (11%) non-responders. Results: We found significantly more non-Dutch origin and more disabilities and school problems at age 10 years in late- and especially in non-responders. At age 14 years, the health utility index was significantly lower in late responders compared to early responders. School outcome did not show difference in relation to the response groups. Conclusion: The results suggest that the incidence of adverse outcome in very preterm infants is underestimated when follow-up is incomplete and hence response rate is not a negligible problem in the assessment of late outcome. Therefore, follow-up studies should include a drop-out analysis to enable comparison to other studies.
Subject
Health
Attrition bias
Very low birth-weight infants
Very preterm infants
Academic achievement
Controlled study
Disability
Logistic regression analysis
Low birth weight
Newborn
Prematurity
Small for date infant
Adolescent
Child
Child, Preschool
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Premature
Male
Netherlands
Premature Birth
Selection Bias
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DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2005.07.006
TNO identifier
238797
ISSN
0378-3782
Source
Early Human Development, 81 (11), 901-908
Document type
article