Our findings suggest that, even within the range of children born at term, prenatal and postnatal growth in body size are associated with individual differences in cognitive abilities.

Two authors were not included in the authorship list though they both had relevant contributions to the study performance and results. Dr. Metsäranta is a neonatologist who was crucial in the patient recruitment and much of the clinical data collection. Dr. Lano is a pediatric neurologist who was crucial in the neurological outcome studies. The author names, affiliations, and contributions have been corrected in the article.

BackgroundIt remains unclear whether it is more detrimental to be born too early or too small in relation to symptoms of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Thus, we tested whether preterm birth and small body size at birth adjusted for gestational age are independently associated with symptoms of ADHD in children.MethodsA longitudinal regional birth cohort study comprising 1535 live-born infants between 03/15/1985 and 03/14/1986 admitted to the neonatal wards and 658 randomly recruited non-admitted infants, in Finland. The present study sample comprised 828 children followed up to 56 months. The association between birth status and parent-rated ADHD symptoms of the child was analysed with multiple linear and logistic regression analyses.ResultsNeither prematurity (birth < 37 weeks of gestation) nor lower gestational age was associated with ADHD symptoms. However, small for gestational age (SGA < -2 standard deviations [SD] below the mean for weight at birth) status and lower birth weight SD score were significantly, and independently of gestational age, associated with higher ADHD symptoms. Those born SGA, relative to those born AGA, were also 3.60-times more likely to have ADHD symptoms scores above the clinical cut-off. The associations were not confounded by factors implicated as risks for pregnancy and/or ADHD.ConclusionsIntrauterine growth restriction, reflected in SGA status and lower birth weight, rather than prematurity or lower gestational age per se, may increase risk for symptoms of ADHD in young children.

Atypical sensory processing in ELGA children was common, and children with neonatal neuroanatomical lesions tended to present specific behavioural responses to sensory stimuli. Surgical closure of the patent ductus arteriosus may predispose infants to feeding problems due to atypical oral sensory processing.

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Maternal pre-pregnancy overweight and GDM are associated with unhealthy body size and composition in offspring over 20 years later. Effects of maternal pre-pregnancy overweight appear more pronounced.

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Category of the study: Clinical research Word count of abstract: 200Word count of manuscript: 4272 3 ABSTRACT Background: Late-preterm birth (at 34 0⁄7 -36 6⁄7 weeks' gestation) increases the risk of early growth