Biological and environmental predictors of behavioral sequelae in children born preterm

Amy L Conrad; Lynn Richman; Scott Lindgren; Peg Nopoulos

doi:10.1542/peds.2009-0634

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Biological and environmental predictors of behavioral sequelae in children born preterm

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Biological and environmental predictors of behavioral sequelae in children born preterm

Amy L Conrad, Lynn Richman, Scott Lindgren and Peg Nopoulos

Pediatrics (Evanston), Vol.125(1), pp.e83-e89

01/2010

DOI: 10.1542/peds.2009-0634

PMCID: PMC2857764

PMID: 20008432

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Abstract

By using behavioral outcome measures of children who were born preterm, we evaluated differences between children who were born at term and children who were born at extremely low (ELBW; <1000 g) and very low birth weights (VLBW; 1000-1499 g) and assessed the relationship of birth weight, socioeconomic status, and cognitive ability to behavioral outcome. We studied a total of 104 children (aged 7-16 years). Of these, 49 had a preterm birth (31 of ELBW and 18 of VLBW). The remaining 55 were healthy control subjects. Children were administered tests of cognitive ability. Parents and teachers completed behavioral assessments. Multivariate analyses of covariance assessed differences between children who were born at term and those who were born of ELBW and of VLBW on behavioral measures. Hierarchical linear regressions were used to assess relationships among biological (birth weight), environmental (socioeconomic status), intellectual, and behavioral variables. Children who were born at term had fewer parent reports of hyperactivity/inattention and depression/anxiety symptoms than children of ELBW and VLBW. Teacher ratings were not significant between groups. Birth weight was consistently the strongest predictor of parent ratings of behavioral outcome, and intelligence level did not seem to mediate this relationship. Negative behavioral sequelae of preterm birth remain significant in middle childhood and adolescence, although the contribution of multiple factors to neurobehavioral outcome is complex. Research to assess these relationships, integrated with anatomic and functional neuroimaging, is needed to advance knowledge and improve outcomes for children who are born preterm.

Wechsler Scales

Multivariate Analysis

Predictive Value of Tests

Follow-Up Studies

Infant, Very Low Birth Weight

Humans

Male

Incidence

Child Behavior Disorders - epidemiology

Female

Child

Infant, Newborn

Term Birth

Infant, Extremely Low Birth Weight

Severity of Illness Index

Premature Birth

Risk Assessment

Developmental Disabilities - etiology

Probability

Child Behavior Disorders - etiology

Developmental Disabilities - epidemiology

Neuropsychological Tests

Neurologic Examination

Infant, Premature

Adolescent

Environment

Cohort Studies

Details

Title: Subtitle: Biological and environmental predictors of behavioral sequelae in children born preterm
Creators: Amy L Conrad - Department of Psychiatry Research, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA. amy-l-conrad@uiowa.edu
Lynn Richman
Scott Lindgren
Peg Nopoulos
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Pediatrics (Evanston), Vol.125(1), pp.e83-e89
DOI: 10.1542/peds.2009-0634
PMID: 20008432
PMCID: PMC2857764
NLM abbreviation: Pediatrics
ISSN: 0031-4005
eISSN: 1098-4275
Publisher: United States
Grant note: HL046925 / NHLBI NIH HHS P01 HL046925-14 / NHLBI NIH HHS P01 HL046925 / NHLBI NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 01/2010
Academic Unit: Neurology; Psychiatry; Pediatric Psychology; Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Craniofacial Anomalies Research Center
Record Identifier: 9984003447702771

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