Perinatal asphyxial encephalopathy is associated with a high risk for death or early neurodevelopmental impairment. For survivors, cerebral palsy (CP), functional disability, and cognitive impairment often develop later in childhood. Hypothermia reduces the proportion of infants with abnormalities, but data on long-term outcomes after neonatal hypothermia are lacking. The Total Body Hypothermia for Neonatal Encephalopathy Trial (TOBY) was a large, randomized, controlled trial of hypothermia for perinatal asphyxial encephalopathy. At 18 months, children who had been treated with hypothermia had reduced risks for CP and improved scores on the developmental and gross motor function tests. This study reports the results of evaluation of the study population at age 6 to 7 years to determine whether the use of moderate hypothermia after perinatal asphyxia is associated with long-term benefits.
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