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. 2022 Jan;111(1):107-114.
doi: 10.1111/apa.16098. Epub 2021 Sep 12.

The causal effect of being born extremely preterm or extremely low birthweight on neurodevelopment and social-emotional development at 2 years

Joy E Olsen  1   2 , Katherine J Lee  1   3 , Alicia J Spittle  1   2   4 , Peter J Anderson  1   5 , Lex W Doyle  1   2   3   6 , Jeanie L Y Cheong  1   2   6 ; members of the Victorian Infant Collaborative Study Group
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The causal effect of being born extremely preterm or extremely low birthweight on neurodevelopment and social-emotional development at 2 years

Joy E Olsen et al. Acta Paediatr. 2022 Jan.

Abstract

Aim: To assess the causal effect of being born extremely preterm (EP; <28 weeks' gestation) or extremely low birthweight (ELBW; <1000 g), compared with being born at term, on neurodevelopment and social-emotional development at 2 years' corrected age.

Methods: Prospective geographical cohort study of children born EP/ELBW over 12 months in 2016 from Victoria, Australia, and term-born controls. Children were assessed at 2 years' corrected age with the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-3rd edition and the Infant-Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment. Delay was defined as <-1 standard deviation relative to the mean of controls. The estimand of interest was the mean difference/odds ratio (OR) between the EP/ELBW and control groups estimated using linear/logistic regression, adjusted for multiple pregnancy and social risk.

Results: A total of 205 EP/ELBW and 201 controls were assessed at 2 years. Delay/concerns were more common in the EP/ELBW group compared with controls, for cognitive (OR 3.7 [95% confidence interval 2.3, 6.0]), language (5.3 [3.1, 9.0]) and motor (3.9 [2.3, 6.3]) development, and social-emotional competence (4.1 [1.6, 10.2]).

Conclusion: Being born EP/ELBW has an adverse effect on cognitive, language and motor development, and social-emotional competence at 2 years' corrected age. Close developmental surveillance, including social-emotional development, is recommended.

Keywords: causal effect; extremely low birthweight; extremely preterm; neurodevelopment; social-emotional assessment.

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References

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