Table 1.
Characteristics of Studies Included in Meta-Analysis
| First Author, Year of Publication, Country | Preterm Sample Size | Mean GA of Sample in weeks ± SD or (range) | Child Age at Time of Study | Exclusion Criteria | Feeding Assessment | Prevalence of Problematic Feeding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams-Chapman, 2013 [14], US | 1477 | 26 ± 2 | 18–22 mos CGA | Congenital infection or anomalies | Informal/Clinical Assessment | 13% |
| Adams-Chapman, 2015 [13], US | 467 | 26.2 ± 1.8 | 18 and 30 mos CGA | Congenital infection, major malformation, or congenital syndrome | Informal/Clinical Assessment |
18 mos: 47% 30 mos: 25% |
| Bilgin, 2016 [15], UK | 73 | 29.4 (25–33) | Term, 3, 6, and 18 mos CGA | None described | Informal/Clinical Assessment and Faddy Eating/Food Refusal Scale |
Term: 50.7% 3 mos: 20.5% 6 mos: 26% 18 mos: 57.5% |
| Buswell, 2009 [16], UK | 15 | 32 5/7 (24 4/7–36 6/7) | 10 mos CGA | Congenital problems, parenchymal hemorrhage, leukomalacia, visual impairment, aspiration precluding oral feeding, or significant social concerns | Schedule for Oral Motor Assessment | 20% |
| Cerro, 2002 [17], Australia | 95 | 29.2 ± 2.1 | 31 mos CGA (19–43 mos) | Neurological impairment | Informal/Clinical Assessment | 73% |
| Crapnell, 2013 [18], US | 80 | 26.6 ± 1.9 | 24 mos | Congenital anomalies | Infant – Toddler Social Emotional Assessment – Eating subscale | 23% |
| DeMauro, 2011 [19], US |
3 mos CGA - 220 Early PT /401 Late PT 6 mos CGA - 261 Early PT/ 398 Late PT 12 mos CGA - 244 Early PT / 451 Late PT |
Early PT: 25–33 6/7 Late PT: 34–36 6/7 |
3, 6, and 12 mos CGA | Congenital or chromosomal anomalies | Informal/Clinical Assessment |
3 mos CGA - Early PT: 33% Late PT: 29% 6 mos CGA - Early PT: 18% Late PT: 20% 12 mos CGA - Early PT: 14% Late PT: 12% |
| den Boer, 2013 [5], Netherlands | 47 | 30 ± 2 | 9.6 ± .7 mos CGA | None stated | Informal/Clinical Assessment | 47% |
| Dodrill, 2004 [20], Australia | 20 | 33.9 (32–36) | 13.5 mos CGA (11–16.4) | Medical comorbidities | Royal Children’s Hospital Oral Sensitivity Checklist | 100% |
| Enomoto, 2017 [21], Japan | 35 | 23.1–28.6 | Term CGA | Abnormal palate at birth | Informal/Clinical Assessment | 17.1% |
| Hawdon, 2000 [22], UK | 27 | 23–37 | Term CGA | NICU stay < 5 days and parents with “no fixed abode” | Neonatal Oral Motor Assessment Scale | 40.7% |
| Hoogewerf, 2017 [2], Netherlands |
EP: 38 VP: 118 MP: 95 |
EP: 27 (24–27) VP: 30 (28–31) MP: 34 (32–36) |
12–24 mos | NICU care < 4 days, chromosomal anomalies | Montreal Children’s Hospital Feeding Scale – Dutch version |
EP: 26.3% VP: 19.5% MP: 15.8% |
| Johnson, 2016 [4], UK | 597 | (32–36) | 24 mos CGA | Major structural or chromosomal congenital anomalies, cardiovascular malformations and neurosensory impairments | 17-item “Validated eating behavior questionnaire” | 14.9% |
| Jonsson, 2013 [23], Sweden | 27 | 31 ± 1.4 | < 6 mos | Presence of congenital anomalies or chronic illness not associated with prematurity. | Informal/Clinical Assessment | 48% |
| Kmita, 2011 [24], Poland |
Group 1: 22 Group 2: 18 |
Group 1: 26 (22–29) weeks Group 2: 31 (29–34 weeks) |
< 12 mos CGA | Teenage parents or congenital malformations/genetic syndromes | Informal/Clinical Assessment |
Group 1: 68.2% Group 2: 55.6% |
| Mathisen, 2000 [25], Australia | 20 | 27.3 ± 1.65 | 6–8 mos CGA | IVH, necrotizing enterocolitis, broncho-pulmonary dysplasia, chromosomal abnormality, SGA, receiving supplementary oxygen or tube feeds. | Schedule for Oral Motor Assessment | 80% |
| Nieuwenhuis, 2016 [26], Netherlands | 35 | 30 (26–32) | 3–3.9 years CGA | None stated | Montreal Children’s Hospital Feeding Scale – Dutch version | 11% |
| Pridham, 2007 [27], US | 41 | 26.4 ± 1.9 (23–30) | 1, 4, 8, and 12 mos corrected GA | Medical conditions that interfere with oral intake of nutrients or small for gestational age at birth | Child Feeding Skills Checklist |
1 mos: 28.7% 4 mos: 19.8% 8 mos: 34.5% 12 mos: 41.2% |
| Sanchez, 2016 [3], Australia | 90 | 27.9 (23.6–29.9) | 12 mos CGA | Infants with congenital abnormalities known to affect neurodevelopment | Schedule for Oral Motor Assessment | 38% |
| Sweet, 2003 [28], US | 21 | 24 (22–27) | 2 years | Birth weight > 600 g | Informal/Clinical Assessment | 62% |
| Torola, 2012 [29], Finland | 19 | 27 (23–30) | 0–5 mos CGA | Congenital or chromosomal anomaly | Neonatal Oral Motor Assessment Scale | 100% |
| Wood, 2003 [30], UK | 283 | 22 1/7–25 6/7 | 30 mos CGA | No exclusion criteria mentioned | Informal/Clinical Assessment | 33% |
Note. Additional information about definitions of problematic feeding can be found on Table 2 (Supplementary online content). EP Extremely preterm, CGA corrected gestational age, IVH intraventricular hemorrhage, mos months, MP moderately preterm, NICU neonatal intensive care unit, PMA post-menstrual age, PT preterm, SGA small for gestational age, VP very preterm