Application of the Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination in the developmental follow‐up of high‐risk infants

Abstract Aim To investigate the independent influences affecting the global score of the Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination (HINE) in the early life of high‐risk infants and to provide evidence for early effective screening and for evaluating interventions. Method We conducted a prospective cohort study of 258 high‐risk infants assessed by the HINE and Gesell Developmental Diagnosis Schedule at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months corrected age. A multiple linear regression model was developed to investigate independent influences on HINE global score at 3 months corrected age. The accuracy of the HINE global score was analysed by calculating the discriminant, concurrent, and predictive validities according to ages. Results There were nine independent influences affecting the HINE global score at 3 months corrected age in high‐risk infants. The discriminant, concurrent, and predictive validities of the HINE for gross motor developmental delays at 12 months corrected age were all statistically significant ( p < 0.05). Interpretation Different neonatal clinical settings are related to the HINE global score of high‐risk infants early in life. The HINE can be used for longitudinal monitoring of neurological development in the first year of life in a typical Chinese clinical setting and the findings at all four ages tested relate to neuromotor outcomes at 12 months corrected age.