Cognitive development of term small for gestational age children at five years of age

Abstract

Aim-To assess the relative significance for cognitive development of small for gestational age, parental demographic factors, and factors related to the child rearing environment. Methods-IQ of a population based cohort of 338 term infants who were small for gestational age (SGA) and without major handicap, and a random control sample of 335 appropriate for gestational age (AGA) infants were compared at 5 years of age. Results-The mean non-verbal IQ was four points lower, while the mean verbal IQ was three points lower for the children in the SGA group. The results were not confounded by parental demographic or child rearing factors. However, parental factors, including maternal non-verbal problem solving abilities, and child rearing style, accounted for 20% of the variance in non-verbal IQ, while SGA versus AGA status accounted for only 2%. The comparable numbers for verbal IQ were 30 and 1%. Furthermore, we found no evidence that the cognitive development of SGA children was more sensitive to a non-optimal child rearing environment than that of AGA children. Maternal smoking at conception was associated with a reduction in mean IQ comparable to that found for SGA status, and this eVect was the same for SGA and AGA children. The cognitive function of asymmetric SGA was comparable to that of symmetric SGA children. Conclusions-Our findings indicate that child cognitive development is strongly associated with parental factors, but only marginally associated with intrauterine growth retardation. (Arch Dis Child 2000;83:25-30)

Earlier smoking habits are associated with higher serum lipids and lower milk fat and polyunsaturated fatty acid content in the first 6 months of lactation

“…While the impact of cigarette smoking during pregnancy on fetal growth and development is documented (Vik et al, 1996;Lassen & Oei, 1998;Luciano et al, 1998;Sommerfelt et al, 2000), no studies have investigated its effects on milk fat composition and maternal lipid profiles during lactation. It is well known that milk fat content and composition affects the supply of individual fatty acids to breastfed infants, thereby modifying their energy intake and as a consequence developmental processes too (Farquharson et al, 1992;Makrides et al, 1994).…”

“…It is generally agreed that maternal smoking is associated with a negative impact on the outcome of the offspring, in terms of growth and neurodevelopment, and particularly with a lower rate of intrauterine growth, resulting in a lower birthweight and growth retardation, at least in the first periods of extrauterine life (Vik et al, 1996;Lassen & Oei, 1998;Sommerfelt et al, 2000).…”

Neonatal outcomes after influenza immunization during pregnancy: a randomized controlled trial

“…[45][46][47] Effective, safe vaccines to prevent influenza during pregnancy are available and recommended by a variety of agencies. [48][49][50][51] Antenatal programs to vaccinate against tetanus in limited-resource regions have achieved a substantial level of coverage, reaching, for example, 80% of all pregnant women in Bangladesh.…”

Risks for Low Intellectual Performance Related to Being Born Small for Gestational Age Are Modified by Gestational Age

“…9,10 A number of studies reported increased risks for low intellectual performance and poor cognitive development among growth-restricted infants who were delivered at or near term. 6,11,12 Whether fetal growth restriction influences the long-term intellectual performance in preterm infants is still disputed. 13 In the present nationwide Swedish study, we investigated whether the associations between anthropometric measurements at birth and risks for low intellectual performance in early adulthood are modified by gestational age.…”