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Meta-Analysis
. 2017 Dec 21;7(1):18035.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-18234-9.

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

Huaiting Gu  1   2 , Lixia Wang  3 , Lingfei Liu  1 , Xiu Luo  1 , Jia Wang  1 , Fang Hou  1 , Pauline Denis Nkomola  1 , Jing Li  2 , Genyi Liu  2 , Heng Meng  1 , Jiajia Zhang  4 , Ranran Song  5
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

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

Huaiting Gu et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

Multiple studies have reported that individuals with low birth weights (LBW, <2500 g) have a lower intelligence quotient (IQ) than those with normal birth weights (NBW, ≥2500 g). Based on 57 eligible individual studies including 12,137 participants, we performed a meta-analysis to estimate the association between low birth weight and individuals' IQ scores (IQs). The pooled weight mean difference (WMD) in IQs between NBW and LBW individuals was 10 (95% CI 9.26-11.68). The WMD was stable regardless of age. No publication bias was detected. The mean IQs of the extremely low birth weight (ELBW, <1000 g), very low birth weight (VLBW, 1000-1499 g), moderately low birth weight (MLBW, 1500-2499 g) and NBW individuals were 91, 94, 99 and 104, respectively. Additionally, the WMD in IQs with NBW were 14, 10 and 7 for ELBW, VLBW, and MLBW individuals, respectively. Two studies permitted estimates of the influence of social determinants of health to the discrepancy in IQs, which was 13%. Since IQ is inherited and influenced by environmental factors, parental IQs and other factors contribute to residual confounding of the results. As the conclusion was based on population studies, it may not be applicable to a single individual.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow chart of meta-analysis for exclusion/inclusion of individual studies. ∗Deficiency of data cited references–.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Random-effect analysis of the association between low birth weight and IQs. WMD: weight mean difference; CI:confidence interval.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Begg’s funnel plot of individual studies included in the analysis according to random-effect WMD estimates.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Meta-regression of birth weight on IQs difference between NBW and LBW individuals.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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