Oral language of school-aged children born pretermaturely: a population-based analysis from Madeira Island, Portugal

Premature birth and low birth weight are very important factors in neurodevelopment. Current research in this population focuses on children born prematurely, with no underlying complications in the post-natal period, who are likely to develop specific disorders with their language development and consequently with their learning capabilities too. This study aims to analyse the oral language skills of prematurely born children in comparison to their school-aged peers. The children were assessed in the respective schools, 27 preterm children (16 under 32 weeks and 11 with 32 or more weeks of gestation) and 49 term paired by gender, age, and school year. Tests including simple and complex structures for assessing semantics, morphosyntax, and phonology were used, as well as a test of verbal memory. Preterm born children, regardless of their prematurity grade, showed significantly lower results than their peers, and more than a half of them, 52%, presented low scores in all language tests simultaneously, showing an important language deficit. In contrast, in the term born children group only 14% showed low scores simultaneously in all tests. Verbal memory ability proved to be lower than that of their term peers, regardless of the gestational age and birth weight of preterm children. As a result of this analysis we consider that the evaluation of the linguistic development of these children, even in cases of moderate to late prematurity, should be monitored in order to identify earlier the existence of deficits and prevent psychosocial and learning problems.

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Prevalence and Initial Diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy in Preterm and Term-Born Children in Taiwan: A Nationwide, Population-Based Cohort Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18178984 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (17) ◽

pp. 8984

Author(s):

Hsin-Hua Wang ◽

Yea-Shwu Hwang ◽

Chung-Han Ho ◽

Ming-Chi Lai ◽

Yu-Chin Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cerebral Palsy ◽

Birth Weight ◽

Low Birth Weight ◽

Very Low Birth Weight ◽

Population Based ◽

Initial Diagnosis ◽

Extremely Low Birth Weight ◽

Research Database ◽

Preterm Children

The aim of this long-term longitudinal study in Taiwan was to estimate and compare the prevalence of cerebral palsy (CP) and to identify the age of CP diagnosis of term-born and preterm children with different birthweights. Records of 1494 extremely low birth weight (ELBW, <1000 g), 3961 very low birth weight (VLBW, 1000–1499 g), 19,612 low birth weight (LBW, 1500–2499 g) preterm, and 100,268 matched term-born children were retrieved from Taiwan′s National Health Insurance Research Database. According to a 12-year retrospective data review, the results showed the highest prevalence of CP in preterm ELBW children (147.3 cases per 1000 neonatal survivors), followed by preterm VLBW (97.2 cases), preterm LBW (27.7 cases), with the lowest prevalence in term-born children (2.5 cases). Regardless of the birthweight group, 90% of preterm children with CP were diagnosed by 4 years of age, but it was 7 years before 90% of term-born children with CP were diagnosed. After removing the children whose CP was caused by brain infections, injuries, or cerebrovascular accidents after 4 months of age, there were similar mean ages at the initial CP diagnosis (1.58–1.64 years of age) across birthweight groups born prematurely, but initial diagnosis occurred at an older age (2.41 years of age) in term-born children. The results indicate that birthweight is reversely correlated with the prevalence of CP in preterm children. Although the three preterm birthweight groups received different types of developmental follow-up programs after birth, it did not influence their age at the initial diagnosis of CP. Furthermore, we suggest that follow-up for at least 4 years after birth for preterm children, and 7 years for term-born children, is optimal for estimating CP prevalence. In order to identify and provide early intervention for term-born children with CP earlier, it is suggested that parents routinely fill out a self-reported motor developmental screening questionnaire and pediatricians conduct a motor developmental examination on term-born children at each time of scheduled vaccination injections.

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ADHD symptoms and diagnosis in adult preterms: systematic review, IPD meta-analysis, and register-linkage study

Pediatric Research ◽

10.1038/s41390-021-01929-1 ◽

2022 ◽

Author(s):

Rachel Robinson ◽

Polina Girchenko ◽

Anna Pulakka ◽

Kati Heinonen ◽

Anna Lähdepuro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Birth Weight ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Population Based ◽

Linkage Study ◽

Self Report ◽

List Type ◽

Adhd Symptoms ◽

Adhd Diagnosis ◽

Preterm Born

Abstract Background This study examined differences in ADHD symptoms and diagnosis between preterm and term-born adults (≥18 years), and tested if ADHD is related to gestational age, birth weight, multiple births, or neonatal complications in preterm borns. Methods (1) A systematic review compared ADHD symptom self-reports and diagnosis between preterm and term-born adults published in PubMed, Web of Science, and PROQUEST until April 2021; (2) a one-stage Individual Participant Data(IPD) meta-analysis (n = 1385 preterm, n = 1633 term; born 1978–1995) examined differences in self-reported ADHD symptoms[age 18–36 years]; and (3) a population-based register-linkage study of all live births in Finland (01/01/1987–31/12/1998; n = 37538 preterm, n = 691,616 term) examined ADHD diagnosis risk in adulthood (≥18 years) until 31/12/2016. Results Systematic review results were conflicting. In the IPD meta-analysis, ADHD symptoms levels were similar across groups (mean z-score difference 0.00;95% confidence interval [95% CI] −0.07, 0.07). Whereas in the register-linkage study, adults born preterm had a higher relative risk (RR) for ADHD diagnosis compared to term controls (RR = 1.26, 95% CI 1.12, 1.41, p < 0.001). Among preterms, as gestation length (RR = 0.93, 95% CI 0.89, 0.97, p < 0.001) and SD birth weight z-score (RR = 0.88, 95% CI 0.80, 0.97, p < 0.001) increased, ADHD risk decreased. Conclusions While preterm adults may not report higher levels of ADHD symptoms, their risk of ADHD diagnosis in adulthood is higher. Impact Preterm-born adults do not self-report higher levels of ADHD symptoms, yet are more likely to receive an ADHD diagnosis in adulthood compared to term-borns. Previous evidence has consisted of limited sample sizes of adults and used different methods with inconsistent findings. This study assessed adult self-reported symptoms across 8 harmonized cohorts and contrasted the findings with diagnosed ADHD in a population-based register-linkage study. Preterm-born adults may not self-report increased ADHD symptoms. However, they have a higher risk of ADHD diagnosis, warranting preventive strategies and interventions to reduce the presentation of more severe ADHD symptomatology in adulthood.

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Multi-domain cognitive impairments at school age in very preterm-born children compared to term-born peers

BMC Pediatrics ◽

10.1186/s12887-021-02641-z ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Elise Roze ◽

Sijmen A. Reijneveld ◽

Roy E. Stewart ◽

Arend F. Bos

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Functions ◽

Verbal Memory ◽

Cognitive Impairments ◽

School Age ◽

Functional Impairments ◽

Visuomotor Integration ◽

Preterm Children ◽

Cognitive Domains ◽

Very Preterm ◽

Preterm Born

Abstract Background Preterm infants are at risk for functional impairments in motor, cognitive, and behavioral development that may persist into childhood. The aim of this study was to determine the co-occurrence of cognitive impairments in multiple cognitive domains at school age in very preterm born children compared to term-born children. Methods Comparative study including 60 very preterm-born children (gestational age ≤ 32 weeks) and 120 term-born controls. At school age, we assessed intelligence with the WISC-III, and visuomotor integration with the NEPSY-II, verbal memory with the AVLT, attention with the TEA-ch, and executive functioning with the BRIEF. We investigated co-occurrence of various abnormal (<5th percentile) and suspect-abnormal (<15th percentile, including both suspect and abnormal) cognitive functions. Results At mean age 8.8 years, 15% of preterm children had abnormal outcomes in multiple cognitive functions (≥2), versus 3% of the controls (odds ratio, OR 4.65, 95%-confidence interval, CI 1.33–16.35). For multiple suspect-abnormal cognitive outcomes, rates were 55% versus 25% (OR 3.02, 95%-CI 1.49–6.12). We found no pattern of co-occurrence of cognitive impairments among preterm children that deviated from term-born controls. However, low performance IQ was more frequently accompanied by additional cognitive impairments in preterms than in controls (OR 5.43, 95%-CI 1.75–16.81). Conclusions A majority of preterm children showed co-occurrence of impairments in multiple cognitive domains, but with no specific pattern of impairments. The occurrence of multi-domain cognitive impairments is higher in preterms but this seems to reflect a general increase, not one with a pattern specific for preterm-born children.

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O-036 Hearing Loss By Week Of Gestation And Categories Of Birth Weight In Very Preterm Neonates: A Population-based Study

Archives of Disease in Childhood ◽

10.1136/archdischild-2014-307384.105 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 99 (Suppl 2) ◽

pp. A35.2-A35

Author(s):

P van Dommelen ◽

PH Verkerk ◽

HLM van Straaten

Keyword(s):

Hearing Loss ◽

Birth Weight ◽

Population Based ◽

Preterm Neonates ◽

Population Based Study ◽

Very Preterm

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Factors influencing birth weight in newborns of diabetic and non-diabetic women a population based study

European Journal of Epidemiology ◽

10.1007/bf00151720 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 6 (4) ◽

pp. 427-431 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

D. Fraser ◽

S. Weitzman ◽

J. R. Leiberman ◽

E. Eschwege

Keyword(s):

Birth Weight ◽

Population Based ◽

Population Based Study ◽

Factors Influencing

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Associations of forms of intimate partner violence with low birth weight in India: findings from a population-based Survey

The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine ◽

10.1080/14767058.2021.1940129 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Mostafizur Rahman ◽

Helal Uddin ◽

Lutfun Nahar Lata ◽

Jalal Uddin

Keyword(s):

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Birth Weight ◽

Low Birth Weight ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Population Based ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

Population Based Survey

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Comparison of adverse perinatal outcomes between Asians and Caucasians: a population-based retrospective cohort study in Ontario

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth ◽

10.1186/s12884-020-03467-w ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Na Zeng ◽

Erica Erwin ◽

Wendy Wen ◽

Daniel J. Corsi ◽

Shi Wu Wen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

Birth Weight ◽

Preterm Birth ◽

Cesarean Section ◽

Gestational Age ◽

Retrospective Cohort Study ◽

Retrospective Cohort ◽

Perinatal Outcomes ◽

Population Based ◽

Adverse Perinatal Outcomes

Abstract Background Racial disparities in adverse perinatal outcomes have been studied in other countries, but little has been done for the Canadian population. In this study, we sought to examine the disparities in adverse perinatal outcomes between Asians and Caucasians in Ontario, Canada. Methods We conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study that included all Asian and Caucasian women who attended a prenatal screening and resulted in a singleton birth in an Ontario hospital (April 1st, 2015-March 31st, 2017). Generalized estimating equation models were used to estimate the independent adjusted relative risks and adjusted risk difference of adverse perinatal outcomes for Asians compared with Caucasians. Results Among 237,293 eligible women, 31% were Asian and 69% were Caucasian. Asians were at an increased risk of gestational diabetes mellitus, placental previa, early preterm birth (< 32 weeks), preterm birth, emergency cesarean section, 3rd and 4th degree perineal tears, low birth weight (< 2500 g, < 1500 g), small-for-gestational-age (<10th percentile, <3rd percentile), neonatal intensive care unit admission, and hyperbilirubinemia requiring treatment, but had lower risks of preeclampsia, macrosomia (birth weight > 4000 g), large-for-gestational-age neonates, 5-min Apgar score < 7, and arterial cord pH ≤7.1, as compared with Caucasians. No difference in risk of elective cesarean section was observed between Asians and Caucasians. Conclusion There are significant differences in several adverse perinatal outcomes between Asians and Caucasians. These differences should be taken into consideration for clinical practices due to the large Asian population in Canada.

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