Key clinical point: In monitoring children born very preterm, prediction of cognitive impairment at age 12 years is more accurate if any (mild and severe) cognitive impairment is included at the younger ages as a criterion for continued monitoring.

Major finding: All cases of severe impairment at age 12 years were correctly predicted when any cognitive impairment was included at the younger ages as a criterion for continued monitoring.

Study details: A prospective study of 103 children born very preterm and 109 children born term, with age-appropriate standardized measures of cognitive ability administered at ages 2, 4, 6, 9, and 12 years.

Disclosures: The study was funded by the Neurological Foundation, Lottery Grants Board, Canterbury Medical Research Foundation, and Health Research Council of New Zealand. The authors reported having no relevant financial relationships or conflicts of interest.