Gender-related Differences in Early Amplitude-integrated Electroencephalography in Newborns < 30 Weeks' Gestational Age and Their Correlation With Neurodevelopment Outcome at Three Years Corrected Age

Background and objectives: Male sex is a risk factor for poor neurodevelopmental outcome following preterm birth. The investigators aimed to investigate gender-related differences in amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) and to correlate these findings with neurodevelopmental outcome.

Methods: Preterm infants born <30 weeks' gestational age between 2000 and 2002 were prospectively included. aEEGs obtained within the first two weeks of life were evaluated and classified according to background activity, sleep-wake cycling (SWC) and seizure activity. Outcome was assessed at three years.