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. 2019 Jan 31;14(1):e0211427.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0211427. eCollection 2019.

Longitudinal growth and emotional and behavioral problems at age 7 in moderate and late preterms

Baukje M Dotinga  1 , Andrea F de Winter  2 , Inger F A Bocca-Tjeertes  1 , Jorien M Kerstjens  1 , Sijmen A Reijneveld  2 , Arend F Bos  1
Affiliations

Longitudinal growth and emotional and behavioral problems at age 7 in moderate and late preterms

Baukje M Dotinga et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Objectives: Moderately and late preterm children (MLPs, 32.0-36.9 weeks gestational age) have a greater risk of poorer growth. This seems to be associated with poorer neuropsychological functioning. Evidence is limited on whether this also holds for emotional and behavioral (EB) problems. Therefore, we assessed whether longitudinal growth from birth until age 7 was associated with EB problems at age 7 in MLPs.

Study design: This study was part of the Longitudinal Preterm Outcome Project, a prospective cohort study. Data on growth (height, weight, head circumference, and extent of catch-up growth) were obtained from assessments from birth until age 7. EB problems were assessed at age 7 with the Child Behavior Checklist. We assessed whether growth and EB problems were associated using logistic regression analyses, adjusting for multiple birth, parity, and socioeconomic status.

Results: We included 248 MLPs. Median gestational age was 34 weeks (interquartile range: 33-35 weeks). Mean birth weight was 2.2 kg (standard deviation: 0.5 kg). Postnatal growth measures were below the Dutch reference norm. EB problems were more prevalent in MLPs than in the general Dutch population. Generally, we found no associations between growth and EB problems; odds ratios ranged from 0.20 to 2.72.

Conclusions: In MLPs, postnatal growth from birth until age 7 was not associated with EB problems at age 7. Poorer growth thus seems to relate to neuropsychological problems, but not to EB problems. This suggests that the etiologies of these problems differ at least partially.

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Conflict of interest statement

Unrestricted investigator initiated research grants from the following companies: FrieslandCampina, Friso Infant Nutrition, and Pfizer Europe. There are no patents, products in development or marketed products to declare. This does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Prevalence rates of emotional and behavioral problems in moderately and late preterm children.
‘Clinical’ indicates scores ≥90th centile and ‘subclinical’ indicates scores ≥84th centile and <90th centile. In The Netherlands, prevalence rates of clinical problems are approximately 8%, 5% and 6% for internalizing, externalizing and total problem scales, respectively [51,52].
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