Eryigit-Madzwamuse, Suna, Baumann, Nicole, Jaekel, Julia, Bartmann, Peter and Wolke, Dieter (2015) Neuro-cognitive performance of very preterm or very low birth weight adults at 26 years. Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, 56 (8). pp. 857-864. doi:10.1111/jcpp.12358 ISSN 0021-9630.

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Abstract

Background:
Children born very preterm (VP <32 weeks gestation) and/or with very low birth weight (VBLW <1500 g; subsequently VP/VLBW) have been previously reported to have more cognitive impairment and specific executive functioning problems than term children; however, it remains unclear whether these problems persist into adulthood. This study aimed to examine general intelligence (IQ) and executive functioning (EF) of adults born VP/VLBW in comparison to term controls. Additionally, the effects of smallness for gestational age (SGA) and family socioeconomic status (SES) at birth were investigated.

Methods:
The Bavarian Longitudinal Study is a geographically defined prospective cohort study of neonatal at-risk children born in 1985/86 in Southern Germany. A total of 217 VP/VLBW and 197 controls completed the battery of IQ and EF tests at 26 years of age.

Results:
VP/VLBW adults scored significantly lower than controls in IQ and EF. There was a 1.16 standard deviation (SD) unit difference between the VP/VLBW and controls in Full-Scale IQ. VP/VLBW adults were found to have general and multiple cognitive problems rather than specific deficits in EF. SGA was not a significant predictor of cognitive impairment. Family SES had a significant impact on general intelligence in both VP/VLBW and term controls. The SES effects amounted to 1.13 SD units between individuals born into high versus low SES.

Conclusions:
No narrowing of cognitive deficits between VP/VLBW and term control adults to previous childhood assessments at 6 years of age was found. VP/VLBW adults do not outgrow their cognitive problems despite many receiving special educational support in childhood. Low family SES at birth has similar additive adverse effects on cognitive performance in VP/VLBW and term offspring.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics
Divisions:	Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Health Sciences > Mental Health and Wellbeing Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Biomedical Sciences > Translational & Experimental Medicine > Metabolic and Vascular Health (- until July 2016) Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Birth weight, Low, Premature infants -- Intelligence levels
Journal or Publication Title:	Journal of child psychology and psychiatry
Publisher:	Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
ISSN:	0021-9630
Official Date:	August 2015
Dates:	Date Event August 2015 Published 8 November 2014 Available 29 September 2014 Accepted
Volume:	56
Number:	8
Number of Pages:	8
Page Range:	pp. 857-864
DOI:	10.1111/jcpp.12358
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access
Date of first compliant deposit:	28 December 2015
Date of first compliant Open Access:	28 December 2015
Funder:	Germany. Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)
Grant number:	PKE24 (BMBF), JUG14 (BMBF), 01EP9504 (BMBF), 01ER0801 (BMBF)

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