Heinonen, Kati, Raikkonen, Katri, Pesonen, Anu-Katriina, Andersson, Sture, Kajantie, Eero, Eriksson, Johan G., Vartia, Timo, Wolke, Dieter and Lano, Aulikki (2011) Trajectories of growth and symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children : a longitudinal study. BMC Pediatrics, Volume 11 (Number 10). Article number 84. doi:10.1186/1471-2431-11-84

Preview

PDF WRAP_Wolke_BMC.asp.pdf - Accepted Version - Requires a PDF viewer. Download (252Kb)

Request Changes to record.

Abstract

Background
Empirical evidence suggests that prenatal growth is associated with attention
deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and its symptoms. Data on the importance of postnatal
growth is, however scanty. We studied whether pre- and postnatal growth up to 56 months is
associated with symptoms of ADHD in children.
Method
A longitudinal regional birth cohort study comprising 893 children followed up to 56 months.
The associations between pre- and postnatal growth and parent-rated ADHD symptoms of the
child were analyzed with multiple linear regression analyses and repeated-measures analyzes of
covariance.
Results
Children born lighter, thinner, shorter, and with a smaller head circumference, adjusted for
length of gestation, received higher parent-rated ADHD symptoms scores at 56 months. Further,
smaller head circumference throughout the period of growth from birth up to 56 months was
related to higher ADHD symptoms scores. The associations changed only little after adjusting
for several pre- and neonatal factors. The associations were not modified by sex and there were
no evidence of non-linear associations.
Conclusions
Slower prenatal growth in weight, body-mass index, length, and head circumference may pose a
risk for higher ADHD symptoms in childhood. The consistently smaller head circumference
from birth up to 56 months characterizing children with higher ADHD symptoms may point to a
lack of catch-up growth in head circumference in childhood as a predisposing factor.

Item Type:	Journal Item
Subjects:	R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics
Divisions:	Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Science > Psychology Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder -- Etiology, Fetus -- Growth, Infants -- Growth
Journal or Publication Title:	BMC Pediatrics
Publisher:	BioMed Central Ltd.
ISSN:	1471-2431
Official Date:	11 October 2011
Dates:	Date Event 11 October 2011 Published
Volume:	Volume 11
Number:	Number 10
Article Number:	Article number 84
DOI:	10.1186/1471-2431-11-84
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Open Access (Creative Commons)
Date of first compliant deposit:	18 December 2015
Date of first compliant Open Access:	18 December 2015
Funder:	Suomen Akatemia [Academy of Finland], Helsingin yliopisto [Helsinki University], European Science Foundation (ESF), Finland. Opetusministeriö [Ministry of Education], Emil Aaltonen Foundation, Signe and Ane Gyllenberg Foundation, Ahokas Foundation, Yrjö Jahnssonin säätiö [Yrjö Jahnsson Foundation], Finnish Foundation for Pediatric Research, Germany. Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)
Grant number:	JUG 14 (BMBF)

Request changes or add full text files to a record

Repository staff actions (login required)

View Item

Downloads