Behavioral and intelligence outcome in 8- to 16-year-old born small for gestational age

Abstract

PurposeWe investigated behavioral problems, attention problems, and cognitive function in children and adolescents born small for gestational age (SGA).MethodsForty-six SGA children born at term and 46 appropriate for gestational age (AGA) children born at term were compared. Psychiatric symptoms were examined with reference to the Korean-Child Behavior Checklist, Korean-Youth Self Report, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scale (ADHD-RS). Cognitive function was estimated using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale. Sociodemographic data were recorded from interviews.ResultsSGA children had high scores on delinquent behavior, aggressive behavior, and the externalizing scale, and they also showed a propensity for anxiety and depression. The SGA group had a higher mean ADHD-RS score than the AGA group (10.52±8.10 vs.9.93±7.23), but the difference was not significant. The SGA group had a significantly lower verbal intelligence quotient (IQ) than the AGA group, but the mean scores of both groups were within normal limits.ConclusionThis study indicates marked behavioral problems, such as delinquency, aggressiveness, and anxiety and depression, as well as low verbal IQ in the SGA group than in the AGA group. Even in cases in which these symptoms are not severe, early detection and proper treatment can help these children adapt to society.

Post-discharge body weight and neurodevelopmental outcomes among very low birth weight infants in Taiwan: A nationwide cohort study

“…SGA has been recognized as a risk factor for psychomotor retardation, speech delay, cognitive impairment, behavior problems, and poor intelligence outcome in later life. [ 31 , 50 – 56 ] Poor growth velocity during hospitalization (EUGR) was also related to poor psychomotor outcome in early childhood. [ 25 , 34 , 43 , 57 , 58 ] Thus, early and aggressive nutritional support for adequate body weight gain during hospitalization in VLBW infants, which may mitigate the risks of neurodevelopmental disorders, appears to be the current consensus of opinion in the literature.…”

A gradient relationship between low birth weight and IQ: A meta-analysis

“… Study Country Years of Birth LBW(n) Birth Weight (g) Gestational Age (week) Measurement Tool Age at evaluation IQ Scores Study Design NBW(n) mean (SD/range) Mean (SD)/range mean (SD) 1 Yi KH et al . 96 , 2016 Korea 2003-2009 L 46 2110(315) ≥37 WISC-III 12 100.52(15.24) case-control study N 46 3280(460) ≥37 109.52(12.54) 2 Serenius et al . 10 , 2016 Sweden 2004–2007 L 371 779(170) 25.4(1.07) WISC-IV 6.5 83.4(14.8) cohort study N 367 3617(482) 39.9(1.13) 100.3(11.7) 3 Breeman et al .…”

The Association Between Delivery of Small-for-Gestational-Age Neonate and Their Risk for Long-Term Neurological Morbidity

“…Controversy exists regarding the nature of neurocognitive morbidity, which develops in SGA neonates. For example, some studies have shown neurocognitive deficits and decreased functional outcomes in SGA children, in particular attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) [ 12 , 18 , 19 ], while other studies did not find significant associations with SGA [ 14 , 20 ]. Our long-term follow up did not find an association between SGA and ADHD, but this may be explained by the fact that our study was hospital-based, and in most cases ADHD diagnosis is made in an outpatient setting.…”