Evidence · Research paper
Kangaroo mother care had a protective effect on the volume of brain structures in young adults born preterm.
Research paperActa Paediatrica2022Full text
- Comfort and nursing care
- Delivery room and stabilisation
- Developmental care and positioning
- Family-integrated care
- Medical
- Neurodevelopmental follow-up
- Neurology
- Nursing
- Thermoregulation
Summary
Long-term follow-up of 178 young adults born preterm who took part in a randomised controlled trial of kangaroo mother care (KMC) versus incubator care, assessing brain volumes at 20 years. Those who received KMC had larger total grey matter, basal nuclei and cerebellar volumes and better organised white matter. Brain volumes were directly related to duration of KMC after adjusting for confounders. The authors suggest the neuroprotective effects of KMC persist into adulthood.
Summary written for NICUlearn. Always read the original.
- Licence:
- Open (Creative Commons)
Guidelines are shown for education. Follow your unit's own guidance and senior advice.