Abstract
The purpose of this study was to obtain a comprehensive perspective on which factors on the part
of low-birth-weight infants are related to developmental prognosis. We quantitatively examined the
relationship between various factors, including birth weight, and Developmental Quotient（ DQ） of Kyoto
Scale of Psychological Development 2001, which was taken by children who were discharged from
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit （NICU）. The results indicated that there was no significant correlation
between birth weight and the DQs. Also, hierarchical cluster analysis using the DQs showed that the
children were classified into two clusters in terms of developmental prognosis. Of these clusters, the one
with significantly lower values for all DQs than 100―which indicates an average child―had a higher
proportion of boys, longer NICU stays and heavier discharge weights than the other cluster, which had
significantly higher Cognitive and Adaptation DQ than 100. Furthermore, results from multiple regression
analyses indicated the existence of factors to predict developmental prognosis after they were discharged
from NICU. These results suggested that factors other than birth weight, such as relationships with
parents, might also influence the developmental prognosis of children who were discharged from NICU.
It also shows that birth weight might be no longer one of the major indexes of developmental prognosis
of low-birth-weight infants.
https://ror.org/013wq3j16 
