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. 2008 Feb 1;167(3):262-70.
doi: 10.1093/aje/kwm316. Epub 2007 Nov 27.

Gestational age, birth weight, intrauterine growth, and the risk of epilepsy

Yuelian Sun  1 , Mogens Vestergaard, Carsten B Pedersen, Jakob Christensen, Olga Basso, Jørn Olsen
Affiliations

Gestational age, birth weight, intrauterine growth, and the risk of epilepsy

Yuelian Sun et al. Am J Epidemiol. .

Abstract

The authors evaluated the association between gestational age, birth weight, intrauterine growth, and epilepsy in a population-based cohort of 1.4 million singletons born in Denmark (1979-2002). A total of 14,334 inpatients (1979-2002) and outpatients (1995-2002) with epilepsy were registered in the Danish National Hospital Register. Children who were potentially growth restricted were identified through two methods: 1) sex-, birth-order-, and gestational-age-specific z score of birth weight; and 2) deviation from the expected birth weight estimated based on the birth weight of an older sibling. The incidence rates of epilepsy increased consistently with decreasing gestational age and birth weight. The incidence rate ratios of epilepsy in the first year of life were more than fivefold among children born at 22-32 weeks compared with 39-41 weeks and among children whose birth weight was <2,000 g compared with 3,000-3,999 g. The association was modified by age but remained into early adulthood. Incidence rate ratios of epilepsy were increased among children identified as growth restricted according to either of the two methods. In conclusion, short gestational age, low birth weight, and intrauterine growth restriction are associated with an increased risk of epilepsy.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1. Incidence rate ratio of epilepsy according to gestational age and onset age, Denmark, 1979-2002
Reference: children with a gestational age of 39-41 weeks. We adjusted for calendar year, age and the interaction between age and sex.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2. Incidence rate ratio of epilepsy according to birth weight and onset age, Denmark, 1979-2002
Reference: children with a birth weight of 3000-3999 grams. We adjusted for calendar year, age and the interaction between age and sex.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3. Incidence rate ratio of epilepsy among children without cerebral palsy, congenital malformation, low Apgar score, and family history of epilepsy according to gestational age and onset age, Denmark, 1979-2002
Reference: children with a gestational age of 39-41 weeks. We adjusted for calendar year, age and the interaction between age and sex.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4. Incidence rate ratio of epilepsy among children without cerebral palsy, congenital malformation, low Apgar score, and family history of epilepsy according to birth weight and onset age, Denmark, 1979-2002
Reference: children with a birth weight of 3000-3999 grams. We adjusted for calendar year, age and the interaction between age and sex.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

  • You've come a long way, baby: or have you?
    Vining EP. Vining EP. Epilepsy Curr. 2008 Sep-Oct;8(5):118-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1535-7511.2008.00262.x. Epilepsy Curr. 2008. PMID: 18852830 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

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