Functional outcomes of very premature infants into adulthood

Parental perspectives of outcomes following very preterm birth: Seeing the good, not just the bad

AIM

To describe parental perspective on health and developmental outcomes of their preterm child in relation to level of neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI).

METHODS

A parental survey about their children aged 15-36 months corrected age born ˂29 weeks' gestation investigated parental concerns and positive attributes. Parental responses in relation to their child's level of NDI were examined using Kruskal-Wallis and chi-square for trend tests.

RESULTS

One hundred ninety-nine parental responses were obtained for 163 children, including 44% with NDI. Vast majority of parents reported their children were developing well with good physical health. All parents, irrespective of NDI, reported their children were happy and had a positive personality. Appreciation of social interactions was higher for parents of children without versus with NDI (96% vs. 87%, p = 0.039). Parents of children with NDI were more likely to express concerns than those without NDI. Overall, development was the most common area of concern (45%), followed by the child's future (40%) and physical health (35%).

CONCLUSION

Parents of preterm children report many positive points and concerns, some of which are not examined in neonatal follow-up data. These parental perspectives could be used to inform parents of preterm infants, both antenatally and in the neonatal unit.

Social Functioning in Adults Born Very Preterm: Individual Participant Meta-analysis

CONTEXT

There is a lack of research on individual perceptions of social experiences and social relationships among very preterm (VP) adults compared with term-born peers.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate self-perceived social functioning in adults born VP (<32 weeks' gestation) and/or with very low birth weight (VLBW) (<1500g) compared with term-born adults (≥37 weeks' gestation) using an individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis.

DATA SOURCES

Two international consortia: Research on European Children and Adults born Preterm and Adults Born Preterm International Collaboration.

STUDY SELECTION

Cohorts with outcomes assessed by using the Adult Self-Report Adaptive Functioning scales (friends, spouse/partner, family, job, and education) in both groups.

DATA EXTRACTION

IPD from 5 eligible cohorts were collected. Raw-sum scores for each scale were standardized as z scores by using mean and SD of controls for each cohort. Pooled effect size was measured by difference (Δ) in means between groups.

RESULTS

One-stage analyses (1285 participants) revealed significantly lower scores for relationships with friends in VP/VLBW adults compared with controls (Δ -0.37, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.61 to -0.13). Differences were similar after adjusting for sex, age, and socioeconomic status (Δ -0.39, 95% CI: -0.63 to -0.15) and after excluding participants with neurosensory impairment (Δ -0.34, 95% CI: -0.61 to -0.07). No significant differences were found in other domains.

LIMITATIONS

Generalizability of research findings to VP survivors born in recent decades.

CONCLUSIONS

VP/VLBW adults scored their relationship with friends lower but perceived their family and partner relationships, as well as work and educational experiences, as comparable to those of controls.

Visual assessment of preterm and full-term infants under the age of 12 months using the Preverbal Visual Assessment questionnaire

BACKGROUND

Infants develop many complex visual competences within the first 12 months of life. Premature infants are at high risk for abnormal visual and neurological development. Clinical medical history or neurologic evaluation do not give enough information on visual maturation in infants under 12 months of age.

AIMS

To compare visual maturation between preterm and full-term infants aged under 12 months, using the Preverbal Visual Assessment questionnaire (PreViAs).

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cross-sectional analysis.

SUBJECTS

Infants aged under 12 months, who visited our rehabilitation department for early intervention. Infants were categorized as either preterm or full-term, and assigned to one of three subgroups (0-4 months, 4-8 months, 8-12 months) according to corrected or chronological age.

OUTCOME MEASURES

PreViAs scores.

RESULTS

There were 200 preterm and 225 full-term infants analyzed. The mean global PreViAs scores among preterm infants were significantly lower than among full-term infants in all age groups (0-4 months: p = 0.033, 4-8 months: p = 0.005, and 8-12 months: p = 0.008). The mean global scores and four subdomain scores of the PreViAs were significantly lower (p < 0.001) in very preterm (under 32-weeks gestational age) and very low birth weight (under 1500 g birth weight) than in moderate-to-late preterm infants (between 32- to 37- weeks gestational age) and infants with birth weight above 1500 g. Patent ductus arteriosus, retinopathy of prematurity, and birth weight (percent) showed significant correlation with PreViAs global scores.

CONCLUSION

PreViAs is a useful tool for visual assessment of infants under 12 months, especially in high-risk infants.

The forest, the trees, and the leaves in preterm children: the impact of prematurity on a visual search task containing three-level hierarchical stimuli

Very preterm (VPT; < 33 gestational weeks) children are at risk of developing visuospatial deficits, including local/global attention deficits. They are also more likely to develop poorer inhibitory control. Here, we investigated, using the same stimuli, the potential local/global attention and inhibitory control deficits of VPT children using three levels compound stimuli (global, intermediate, and local levels), more ecological than the ones used in a classic global/local task (Navon task). We compared the results from 22 VPT children to those of a control group of 21 children to investigate (1) how VPT children processed compound stimuli with three-level information and (2) how inhibitory control in a visual task differs between VPT and control children. The results revealed that VPT children had no difficulty processing information presented at the local level. By contrast, VPT children were impaired when considering the intermediate and global levels of processing in comparison to control children. Finally, a reduced efficiency in VPT children in inhibiting visual distractors was evidenced for the conditions with a larger number of distractors. These results are discussed in terms of neurodevelopmental disorders of both dorsal stream (global visual processing) and prefrontal regions (inhibitory control) in VPT children. Given the central role of visuospatial and inhibitory control in day-to-day situations, the present results provide important clues for pedagogical implications regarding the organization of visual information presented to VPT children.

Predicting the outcomes of preterm neonates beyond the neonatal intensive care unit: What are we missing?

Preterm infants are a population at high risk for mortality and adverse health outcomes. With recent improvements in survival to childhood, increasing attention is being paid to risk of long-term morbidity, specifically during childhood and young-adulthood. Although numerous tools for predicting the functional outcomes of preterm neonates have been developed in the past three decades, no studies have provided a comprehensive overview of these tools, along with their strengths and weaknesses. The purpose of this article is to provide an in-depth, narrative review of the current risk models available for predicting the functional outcomes of preterm neonates. A total of 32 studies describing 43 separate models were considered. We found that most studies used similar physiologic variables and standard regression techniques to develop models that primarily predict the risk of poor neurodevelopmental outcomes. With a recently expanded knowledge regarding the many factors that affect neurodevelopment and other important outcomes, as well as a better understanding of the limitations of traditional analytic methods, we argue that there is great room for improvement in creating risk prediction tools for preterm neonates. We also consider the ethical implications of utilizing these tools for clinical decision-making. IMPACT: Based on a literature review of risk prediction models for preterm neonates predicting functional outcomes, future models should aim for more consistent outcomes definitions, standardized assessment schedules and measurement tools, and consideration of risk beyond physiologic antecedents. Our review provides a comprehensive analysis and critique of risk prediction models developed for preterm neonates, specifically predicting functional outcomes instead of mortality, to reveal areas of improvement for future studies aiming to develop risk prediction tools for this population. To our knowledge, this is the first literature review and narrative analysis of risk prediction models for preterm neonates regarding their functional outcomes.

Effects of Neonatal Hyperglycemia on Retinopathy of Prematurity and Visual Outcomes at 7 Years of Age: A Matched Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether neonatal hyperglycemia is associated with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), visual outcomes, and ocular growth at 7 years of age.

STUDY DESIGN

Children born preterm (<30 weeks of gestational age) at a tertiary hospital in Auckland, New Zealand, who developed neonatal hyperglycemia (2 blood glucose concentrations ≥153 mg/dL [8.5 mmol/L] 4 hours apart) were matched with children who were not hyperglycemic (matching criteria: sex, gestational age, birth weight, age, socioeconomic status, and multiple birth) and assessed at 7 years of corrected age. The primary outcome, favorable overall visual outcome (visual acuity ≤0.3 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution, no strabismus, stereoacuity ≤240 arcsec, not requiring spectacles) was compared between groups using generalized matching criteria-adjusted linear regression models.

RESULTS

Assessments were performed on 57 children with neonatal hyperglycemia (hyperglycemia group) and 54 matched children without hyperglycemia (control group). There were no differences in overall favorable visual outcome (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.42-2.13, P = .90) or severe ROP incidence (OR 2.20, 95% CI 0.63-7.63, P = .21) between groups. Children with hyperglycemia had poorer binocular distance visual acuity (mean difference 0.08, 95% CI 0.03-0.14 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution, P < .01), more strabismus (OR 6.22, 95% CI 1.31-29.45, P = .02), and thicker crystalline lens (mean difference 0.14, 95% CI 0.04-0.24 mm, P < .01). Maximum blood glucose concentration was greater in the ROP-treated group compared with the ROP-not treated and no ROP groups after adjusting for sex, gestational age, and birth weight z score (P = .02).

CONCLUSIONS

Neonatal hyperglycemia was not associated with overall visual outcomes at 7 years of age. However, there were between-group differences for specific outcome measures relating to interocular lens growth and binocular vision. Further follow-up is required to determine implications on long-term visual outcome.

Adding value to core outcome set development using multimethod systematic reviews

Trials evaluating the same interventions rarely measure or report identical outcomes. This limits the possibility of aggregating effect sizes across studies to generate high-quality evidence through systematic reviews and meta-analyses. To address this problem, core outcome sets (COS) establish agreed sets of outcomes to be used in all future trials. When developing COS, potential outcome domains are identified by systematically reviewing the outcomes of trials, and increasingly, through primary qualitative research exploring the experiences of key stakeholders, with relevant outcome domains subsequently determined through transdisciplinary consensus development. However, the primary qualitative component can be time consuming with unclear impact. We aimed to examine the potential added value of a qualitative systematic review alongside a quantitative systematic review of trial outcomes to inform COS development in neonatal care using case analysis methods. We compared the methods and findings of a scoping review of neonatal trial outcomes and a scoping review of qualitative research on parents', patients', and professional caregivers' perspectives of neonatal care. Together, these identified a wider range and greater depth of health and social outcome domains, some unique to each review, which were incorporated into the subsequent Delphi process and informed the final set of core outcome domains. Qualitative scoping reviews of participant perspectives research, used in conjunction with quantitative scoping reviews of trials, could identify more outcome domains for consideration and could provide greater depth of understanding to inform stakeholder group discussion in COS development. This is an innovation in the application of research synthesis methods.

School performance is age appropriate with support services in very preterm children at 11 years of age

Aim

This Finnish regional birth‐cohort study compared the school performance of very preterm and full‐term children when they reached 11 years of age.

Methods

Teachers rated the educational abilities of 123 preterm children and 133 full‐term controls at the age of 11 years as well as the support services they received. The children were all born in the Turku University Hospital between 2001 and 2005. In the preterm group, neurosensory impairments were confirmed at two years of corrected age, and full‐scale intelligence quotient (IQ) was assessed at 11 years of age using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale, Fourth Edition.

Results

Educational abilities, including academic skills and classroom functioning, did not differ between the two groups after excluding the children with a full‐scale IQ < 70. However, 40% of the preterm group and 26% of the controls had received at least one support service (p <0.02). The 13 preterm children with a full‐scale IQ <70 and the 10 with neurosensory impairment received more support services. Boys in both groups displayed more classroom‐functioning problems than girls.

Conclusion

A full‐scale IQ ≥ 70 and age‐appropriate educational abilities do not exclude a significant need for support services in very preterm children at the age of 11 years.

Women born with very low birth weight have similar menstrual cycle pattern, pregnancy rates and hormone profiles compared with women born at term

BACKGROUND

Individuals born very preterm or with very low birth weight (VLBW) have a reduced likelihood to reproduce according to population-based register studies. Extremely low-birth weight born adults had a lower reproduction rate for both men and women in a follow-up study.

AIM

To investigate if being born with VLBW is associated with differences in the reproductive health, i.e. age of menarche, menstrual cycle pattern, pregnancy rates and hormone profile compared with women born at term.

METHODS

A prospective long-term follow-up of a cohort of live-born VLBW children and their controls studied repeatedly since birth and now assessed at 26-28 years of age. Of the totally 80 girls enrolled from birth 49 women (24 VLBW women and 25 controls) participated in the current follow-up. The women's anthropometric data and serum hormone levels were analysed.

RESULTS

The reproductive hormone levels, including Anti-Mullerian Hormone, did not differ significantly between VLBW women and their controls. Both groups reported menstrual cycle irregularities and pregnancies to the same extent but the VLBW women reported 1.5 years later age of menarche. The VLBW subjects had a catch-up growth within 18 months of birth but remained on average 5 cm shorter in adult height. There were no significant differences in BMI, sagittal abdominal diameter, blood pressure or in their answers regarding life style between the VLBW women and the controls.

CONCLUSION

No differences in the reproductive hormone levels were found between VLBW women and their controls. Although age at menarche was somewhat higher in the VLBW group menstrual cycles and pregnancy rates were similar in the VLBW and control groups. Further follow-up studies are required to elucidate the health outcomes of being born VLBW.

The Impact of Prematurity on Social and Emotional Development

Behavioral and emotional problems are one of the most frequent chronic conditions diagnosed among children born prematurely. The high prevalence of these pathologies is a matter of concern because of their impact on family life, school performance, and social interaction, but also because of current limitations in early detection and access to treatment. This is a review of the various mechanisms by which premature birth affects social and emotional development, and a discussion about strategies that may help support emotional and social development in this high-risk population.

Long-Term Functioning and Participation Across the Life Course for Preterm Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Graduates

To understand the trajectories of risk and resilience in the vulnerable preterm and neonatal brain, clinicians must go beyond survival and critically examine on a population basis the functional outcomes of children, adolescents, and adults across their life course. Evaluations must go well beyond Bayley assessments and counts of neonatal morbidities, such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia, retinopathy of prematurity, sonographic brain injury, sepsis, and necrotizing enterocolitis. Proactively providing support to families and developmental and educational supports to children can optimize academic functioning and participation in adult learning, physical and behavioral health activities, community living, relationships, and employment.

Selbstregulationsstrategien bei Früh- und Reifgeborenen im Alter von zwei Jahren

Zusammenfassung. Frühgeburtlichkeit stellt einen Risikofaktor für die kognitive Entwicklung und die selbstregulatorischen Fähigkeiten dar. Bisher ist jedoch nicht bekannt, welche Strategien frühgeborene Kinder zur Regulation nutzen. Die aktuelle Studie untersuchte daher erfolgreiche Selbstregulationsstrategien von 30 früh- (Gestationsalter < 37 Wochen) und 30 reifgeborenen Kindern (Gestationsalter ≥ 37 Wochen) im (korrigierten) Alter von 2 Jahren. Die Kinder wurden während einer Aufgabe zum Bedürfnisaufschub videographiert und spezifische Verhaltensweisen (Blick, Sprache, Bewegungen der Hände, des Kopfes und des Körpers) kodiert. Mikroanalysen ergaben, dass Fokussierungs- als auch Ablenkungsstrategien, sowie motorische Kontrollstrategien für einen erfolgreichen Bedürfnisaufschub angewendet wurden. Die Gruppen unterschieden sich nicht signifikant im Gebrauch der Strategien; lediglich am Ende des letzten Durchgangs wurden bei Frühgeborenen vermehrt Ablenkungsstrategien beobachtet. Frühgeburtlichkeit scheint somit keinen direkten Einfluss auf die Anwendung der Strategien zu haben. Das Ausmaß der Frühgeburtlichkeit und das Alter der Kinder sollten in zukünftiger Forschung differenzierter betrachtet werden.

Trajectories of problem behaviors from 4 to 23 years in former preterm infants

Premature infants have significant risk for later behavior problems. This study examined growth trajectories of three problem behaviors across five developmental age points from preschool to early adulthood in a well-characterized sample of premature infants. The effects of neonatal risk, gender, and socioeconomic context were modeled on these trajectories. The longitudinal sample was comprised of preterm infants (N = 160) with full variation of neonatal morbidity and birth weight (640-1950 grams). Trajectories of externalizing, internalizing and attention problem behaviors from 4 to 23 years, measured by the Child Behavior Checklist, were tested using latent growth curve modeling. The results indicate individual variation in the number of externalizing and internalizing problems over time. Externalizing problems were not significantly different for males and females, but male scores were consistently higher. Neonatal risk was significantly associated with higher internalizing problems at age 4, but was not predictive at school age and beyond. Attention problem scores increased from early preschool through adolescence for males, but females had little change over the same ages. SES was not predictive of any problem behavior trajectories and no significant two-way interactions were found. The results advance understanding of stability and change of three important problem behaviors through preschool, childhood and adolescence to young adulthood in prematurely born infants in order to inform clinicians about timely assessment and the refinement of effective interventions.

[Disturbance of oligodendrocyte differentiation in schizophrenia in relation to main hypothesis of the disease]

Increasing evidence coming from neuroimaging, molecular genetic and post-mortem studies have implicated oligodendrocyte abnormalities and compromised myelin integrity in schizophrenia. Activity-dependent myelination in adult brain is considered to be an important mechanism of neural circuit's plasticity due to the presence of a large population of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPC) in the adult CNS. Growing evidence for impairment of oligodendrocyte differentiation has been reported in the brain of schizophrenia subjects. OPC are very vulnerable inflammation, oxidative stress, and elevated glutamate levels leading to excitotoxicity. The mechanisms of prolonged suppression of oligodendrocyte differentiation caused by prenatal maternal infection or preterm birth are discussed in view of increased risk of schizophrenia, neurodevelopmental and inflammation hypotheses of the disease. The data that some neuroleptics stimulate OPC differentiation and ameliorate myelin alterations support the notion that impairment in the differentiation of OPCs contributes to oligodendrocyte abnormalities and to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.

How do childhood intelligence and early psychosocial adversity influence income attainment among adult extremely low birth weight survivors? A test of the cognitive reserve hypothesis

Perinatal and later postnatal adversities have been shown to adversely affect socioeconomic trajectories, while enhanced early cognitive abilities improve them. However, little is known about the combined influence of these exposures on social mobility. In this study, we examined if childhood IQ moderated the association between four different types of postnatal adversity (childhood socioeconomic disadvantage, childhood sexual abuse, lifetime psychiatric disorder, and trait neuroticism) and annual earnings at 30-35 years of age in a sample of 88 extremely low birth weight survivors. Our results suggested that higher childhood IQ was associated with greater personal income at age 30-35. Extremely low birth weight survivors who did not face psychological adversities and who had higher childhood IQ reported higher income in adulthood. However, those who faced psychological adversity and had higher childhood IQ generally reported lower income in adulthood. Our findings suggest that cognitive reserve may not protect preterm survivors against the complex web of risk factors affecting their later socioeconomic attainment.

Prematurity and perinatal adversity effects hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis reactivity to social evaluative threat in adulthood

This study examined the long-term effects of prematurity and perinatal adversity on individual differences in stress-related reactivity and regulation of the HPA axis. A prospective sample of 155 infants born preterm and healthy (n = 20), medical illness (n = 48), neurological illness (n = 26), and small for gestational age (n = 24) and full-term (n = 37) were recruited between 1985 and 1989. At age 23 years, multiple saliva samples were collected before and after participation in the Trier Social Stress Test and later assayed for cortisol. Results reveal that at age 23 years, infants born premature with neurological complications showed higher cortisol reactivity to social evaluative threat compared to either their full-term, small for gestation age, medically ill, or healthy preterm peers. Findings are discussed in terms of implications for contemporary theories that propose effects of early adversity on biological sensitivities and susceptibilities, which translate experience into developmental outcomes related to poor health and risk for disease.

Volumetric grey matter alterations in adolescents and adults born very preterm suggest accelerated brain maturation

Previous research investigating structural neurodevelopmental alterations in individuals who were born very preterm demonstrated a complex pattern of grey matter changes that defy straightforward summary. Here we addressed this problem by characterising volumetric brain alterations in individuals who were born very preterm from adolescence to adulthood at three hierarchically related levels - global, modular and regional. We demarcated structural components that were either particularly resilient or vulnerable to the impact of very preterm birth. We showed that individuals who were born very preterm had smaller global grey matter volume compared to controls, with subcortical and medial temporal regions being particularly affected. Conversely, frontal and lateral parieto-temporal cortices were relatively resilient to the effects of very preterm birth, possibly indicating compensatory mechanisms. Exploratory analyses supported this hypothesis by showing a stronger association between lateral parieto-temporal volume and IQ in the very preterm group compared to controls. We then related these alterations to brain maturation processes. Very preterm individuals exhibited a higher maturation index compared to controls, indicating accelerated brain maturation and this was specifically associated with younger gestational age. We discuss how the findings of accelerated maturation might be reconciled with evidence of delayed maturation at earlier stages of development.

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Hierarchically related structural brain alterations in very preterm individuals span adolescence and adulthood.

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Structural volumetric components that showed resiliency in very preterm individuals were associated with higher IQ.

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Very preterm individuals showed accelerated brain maturation compared to a large dataset of term-born controls.

The effects of preterm birth on visual development

Children born very preterm are at a greater risk of abnormal visual and neurological development when compared to children born at full term. Preterm birth is associated with retinopathy of prematurity (a proliferative retinal vascular disease) and can also affect the development of brain structures associated with post-retinal processing of visual information. Visual deficits common in children born preterm, such as reduced visual acuity, strabismus, abnormal stereopsis and refractive error, are likely to be detected through childhood vision screening programs, ophthalmological follow-up or optometric care. However, routine screening may not detect other vision problems, such as reduced visual fields, impaired contrast sensitivity and deficits in cortical visual processing, that may occur in children born preterm. For example, visual functions associated with the dorsal visual processing stream, such as global motion perception and visuomotor integration, may be impaired by preterm birth. These impairments can continue into adolescence and adulthood and may contribute to the difficulties in learning (particularly reading and mathematics), attention, behaviour and cognition that some children born preterm experience. Improvements in understanding the mechanisms by which preterm birth affects vision will inform future screening and interventions for children born preterm.

Functional neural bases of numerosity judgments in healthy adults born preterm

High rates of mathematics learning disabilities among individuals born preterm (<37weeksGA) have spurred calls for a greater understanding of the nature of these weaknesses and their neural underpinnings. Groups of healthy, high functioning young adults born preterm and full term (n=20) completed a symbolic and non-symbolic magnitude comparison task while undergoing functional MRI scanning. Collectively, participants showed activation in superior and inferior frontal and parietal regions previously linked to numeric processing when comparing non-symbolic magnitude arrays separated by small numeric distances. Simultaneous deactivation of the default mode network also was evident during these trials. Individuals born preterm showed increased signal change relative to their full term peers in right inferior frontal and parietal regions when comparing the non-symbolic magnitude arrays. Elevated signal change during non-symbolic task blocks was associated with poorer performance on a calculation task administered outside of the scanner. These findings indicate that healthy, high-functioning adults born preterm may recruit fronto-parietal networks more extensively when processing non-symbolic magnitudes, suggesting that approximate number system training may be an inroad for early intervention to prevent mathematics difficulties in this population.

Educational Performance of Children Born Prematurely

IMPORTANCE

Survivors of preterm birth often present with medical morbidities; however, variation in their long-term educational performance has not been well described.

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the association between gestational age and 4 outcomes in school-aged children: readiness to enter kindergarten, scores on standardized tests in elementary and middle school, gifted status, and low performance.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

In a retrospective cohort study, children born in Florida between 1992 and 2002 at 23 to 41 weeks' gestation who entered Florida's public schools between 1995 and 2012 were assessed for kindergarten readiness and tested in mathematics and reading in grades 3 through 8. Data analysis was performed from January 12, 2016, to March 1, 2017.

EXPOSURES

Gestational age at birth.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Kindergarten readiness, scores on the Florida Comprehensive Achievement Test (FCAT), classified as gifted, and classified as low performance.

RESULTS

A total of 1 527 113 singleton infants with gestational ages of 23 to 41 weeks born between 1992 and 2002 were matched to Florida public school records. Of these, 1 301 497 children were included in the analysis; 641 479 (49.3%) were girls. A total of 301 (65.0%) Florida children born at 23 to 24 weeks' gestation were designated as ready to start kindergarten. When the FCAT test scores were adjusted for potentially confounding maternal and infant variables, children born at 23 to 24 weeks' gestation performed 0.66 SD (95% CI, -0.73 to -0.59) lower compared with those born at full term. A total of 123 554 (9.5%) of all Florida-born public school students were considered gifted, including 17 (1.8%) of those born at 23 to 24 weeks' gestation. In comparison, 75 458 (5.8%) of all Florida-born public school students were low performing; 310 (33.5%) of these children had been born at 23 to 24 weeks' gestation. Kindergarten readiness, FCAT scores, and gifted status were positively related to gestational age, whereas low performance was inversely related to gestational age.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Although gestational age has long been associated with poor educational performance, a sufficient proportion of children born near the limits of viability performed within expected school norms, warranting further investigation into how and why certain children are able to overcome the educational burdens that may follow preterm birth.

Long-Term Effects of Prematurity, Cumulative Medical Risk, and Proximal and Distal Social Forces on Individual Differences in Diurnal Cortisol at Young Adulthood

This study examined the effects of prematurity, cumulative medical risk, and proximal and distal social forces on individual differences in the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in young adulthood. A prospective sample of 149 infants born healthy preterm (PT; n = 22), sick PT ( n = 93, medical illness, neurological illness, small for gestational age), and full term ( n = 34) was recruited from a Level III neonatal intensive care unit in southern New England between 1985 and 1989 and followed to age 23 years. Cumulative medical risk was indexed across seven assessment waves (spanning 17 years) using medical and neurological health status at birth, toddlerhood (ages 18 and 30 months), childhood (ages 4 and 8 years), and adolescence (ages 12 and 17 years). Distal risk included socioeconomic status (SES) at birth. Proximal social factors were indexed from assessments of the home environment and measures of child vulnerability and maternal self-esteem, involvement, and control style from birth, 4 years, 8 years, and 12 years. At age 23 years, five saliva samples were collected upon awakening, 45 min after waking, 4 hr after waking, 8 hr after waking, and bedtime (later assayed for cortisol). Results reveal effects of cumulative medical risk on the diurnal pattern of HPA axis activity, with moderating effects of SES and proximal social factors. Findings are discussed in terms of implications for contemporary theories related to developmental sensitivity and susceptibility to context and the developmental origins of health and disease theory.

Early and long-term outcome of infants born extremely preterm

There is no question that birth at extremely low gestational ages presents a significant threat to an infant's survival, health and development. Growing evidence suggests that gestational age may be conceptualised as a continuum in which births before 28 weeks of gestation (extremely preterm: EP) represent the severe end of a spectrum of health and developmental adversity. Although comprising just 1%-2% of all births, EP deliveries pose the greatest challenge to neonatal medicine and to health, education and social services for the provision of ongoing support for survivors with additional needs. Studying the outcomes of these infants remains critical for evaluating and enhancing clinical care, planning long-term support and for advancing our understanding of the life-course consequences of immaturity at birth. Here we review literature relating to early and long-term neurodevelopmental, cognitive, behavioural and educational outcomes following EP birth focusing on key themes and considering implications for intervention.

Long-term effects of peer victimization on social outcomes through the fourth decade of life in individuals born at normal or extremely low birthweight

Exposure to early adversity is known to have deleterious effects on brain-behaviour relations across the lifespan and across a range of domains. Here, we tested a cumulative risk hypothesis of adult social functioning and health outcomes in the fourth decade of life, using the oldest known longitudinally followed cohort of survivors of extremely low birthweight (ELBW; <1,000 g). We investigated the additional impact of peer victimization in youth on social outcomes at age 29-36 years in ELBW survivors and matched normal birthweight (NBW; >2,500 g) participants. In the combined sample, peer victimization was associated with lower likelihood of having children and household income, poorer family functioning and self-esteem, more loneliness and chronic health conditions, less social support, and increased likelihood for contact with police. Moderation analyses indicated that among ELBW survivors, compared to their NBW counterparts, victimization was more strongly associated with being convicted of a crime and with having chronic health conditions. These findings highlight the negative long-term impact of peer victimization on all children and that some outcomes may be differentially affected by prenatal and early post-natal environments. Statement of contribution What is already known on this subject Exposure to early adversity has deleterious effects on brain-behaviour relations across the lifespan. Extremely premature children have higher rates of exposure to adversities, including peer victimization. Peer victimization is associated with adverse outcomes in adulthood in those born at term. What does this study add? Victimization negatively impacts the social outcomes of those born extremely premature and at term into adulthood. Associations appear to be affected by individual differences in prenatal and early post-natal environments. Intervention is crucial when peer victimization occurs in children at risk, as well as those typically developing.

Structural Brain Network Reorganization and Social Cognition Related to Adverse Perinatal Condition from Infancy to Early Adolescence

Adverse conditions during fetal life have been associated to both structural and functional changes in neurodevelopment from the neonatal period to adolescence. In this study, connectomics was used to assess the evolution of brain networks from infancy to early adolescence. Brain network reorganization over time in subjects who had suffered adverse perinatal conditions is characterized and related to neurodevelopment and cognition. Three cohorts of prematurely born infants and children (between 28 and 35 weeks of gestational age), including individuals with a birth weight appropriated for gestational age and with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), were evaluated at 1, 6, and 10 years of age, respectively. A common developmental trajectory of brain networks was identified in both control and IUGR groups: network efficiencies of the fractional anisotropy (FA)-weighted and normalized connectomes increase with age, which can be related to maturation and myelination of fiber connections while the number of connections decreases, which can be associated to an axonal pruning process and reorganization. Comparing subjects with or without IUGR, a similar pattern of network differences between groups was observed in the three developmental stages, mainly characterized by IUGR group having reduced brain network efficiencies in binary and FA-weighted connectomes and increased efficiencies in the connectome normalized by its total connection strength (FA). Associations between brain networks and neurobehavioral impairments were also evaluated showing a relationship between different network metrics and specific social cognition-related scores, as well as a higher risk of inattention/hyperactivity and/or executive functional disorders in IUGR children.

Premature Adult Death in Individuals Born Preterm: A Sibling Comparison in a Prospective Nationwide Follow-Up Study

Background

Close to one in ten individuals worldwide is born preterm, and it is important to understand patterns of long-term health and mortality in this group. This study assesses the relationship between gestational age at birth and early adult mortality both in a nationwide population and within sibships. The study adds to existing knowledge by addressing selected causes of death and by assessing the role of genetic and environmental factors shared by siblings.

Methods

Study population was all Norwegian men and women born from 1967 to 1997 followed using nation-wide registry linkage for mortality through 2011 when they were between 15 and 45 years of age. Analyses were performed within maternal sibships to reduce variation in unobserved genetic and environmental factors shared by siblings. Specific outcomes were all-cause mortality and mortality from cardiovascular diseases, cancer and external causes including accidents, suicides and drug abuse/overdoses.

Results

Compared with a sibling born in week 37–41, preterm siblings born before 34 weeks gestation had 50% increased mortality from all causes (adjusted Hazard Ratio (aHR) 1.54, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.17, 2.03). The corresponding estimate for the entire population was 1.27 (95% CI 1.09, 1.47). The majority of deaths (65%) were from external causes and the corresponding risk estimates for these deaths were 1.52 (95% CI 1.08, 2.14) in the sibships and 1.20 (95% CI 1.01, 1.43) in the population.

Conclusion

Preterm birth before week 34 was associated with increased mortality between 15 and 45 years of age. The results suggest that increased premature adult mortality in this group is related to external causes of death and that the increased risks are unlikely to be explained by factors shared by siblings.

Altered resting-state functional connectivity in emotion-processing brain regions in adults who were born very preterm

BACKGROUND

Very preterm birth (VPT; <32 weeks of gestation) has been associated with impairments in emotion regulation, social competence and communicative skills. However, the neuroanatomical mechanisms underlying such impairments have not been systematically studied. Here we investigated the functional integrity of the amygdala connectivity network in relation to the ability to recognize emotions from facial expressions in VPT adults.

METHOD

Thirty-six VPT-born adults and 38 age-matched controls were scanned at rest in a 3-T MRI scanner. Resting-state functional connectivity (rs-fc) was assessed with SPM8. A seed-based analysis focusing on three amygdalar subregions (centro-medial/latero-basal/superficial) was performed. Participants' ability to recognize emotions was assessed using dynamic stimuli of human faces expressing six emotions at different intensities with the Emotion Recognition Task (ERT).

RESULTS

VPT individuals compared to controls showed reduced rs-fc between the superficial subregion of the left amygdala, and the right posterior cingulate cortex (p = 0.017) and the left precuneus (p = 0.002). The VPT group further showed elevated rs-fc between the left superficial amygdala and the superior temporal sulcus (p = 0.008). Performance on the ERT showed that the VPT group was less able than controls to recognize anger at low levels of intensity. Anger scores were significantly associated with rs-fc between the superficial amygdala and the posterior cingulate cortex in controls but not in VPT individuals.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that alterations in rs-fc between the amygdala, parietal and temporal cortices could represent the mechanism linking VPT birth and deficits in emotion processing.

Health-Related Quality of Life Into Adulthood After Very Preterm Birth

BACKGROUND

This study investigated change of health-related quality of life (HRQL) in very preterm/very low birth weight (VP/VLBW; born at <32 weeks' gestation and/or <1500 g birth weight) individuals from adolescence to adulthood. Are perceptions similar by different informants (self, parents) and is HRQL related to economic and social functioning?

METHODS

In a prospective whole-population sample in South Germany, 260 VP/VLBW and 229 term born individuals were assessed from birth to adulthood. HRQL was evaluated by self and parent report at age 13 and 26 years with the Health Utilities Index Mark 3 (HUI3), and economic and social functioning from interview and standard assessments at 26 years.

RESULTS

At both time points, HUI3 scores of VP/VLBW were reported to be lower compared with term born controls by participants and parents. Except for adolescent self-reports (P = .13) these differences were all significant (P < .05). In contrast to participants themselves, parents reported VP/VLBW individuals' HRQL to be worsening over time (change of mean HUI3 scores: 0.88-0.86, P = .03). Parents, particularly, reported negative changes in emotion and pain for VP/VLBW individuals over time. Participant and parent-perceived HRQL was negatively related to economic and social functioning outcomes such as receiving social benefits, unemployment, dating romantic partner or having friends.

CONCLUSIONS

VP/VLBW individuals and their parents perceive HRQL to be lower compared with term controls in adolescence and in adulthood. Lower HRQL was related to economic and social functioning problems in adulthood. No evidence for improvement of HRQL into adulthood was found in this geographical sample in Germany.

Socio-Emotional Development Following Very Preterm Birth: Pathways to Psychopathology

Very preterm birth (VPT; < 32 weeks of gestation) has been associated with an increased risk to develop cognitive and socio-emotional problems, as well as with increased vulnerability to psychiatric disorder, both with childhood and adult onset. Socio-emotional impairments that have been described in VPT individuals include diminished social competence and self-esteem, emotional dysregulation, shyness and timidity. However, the etiology of socio-emotional problems in VPT samples and their underlying mechanisms are far from understood. To date, research has focused on the investigation of both biological and environmental risk factors associated with socio-emotional problems, including structural and functional alterations in brain areas involved in processing emotions and social stimuli, perinatal stress and pain and parenting strategies. Considering the complex interplay of the aforementioned variables, the review attempts to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the association between very preterm birth, socio-emotional vulnerability and psychopathology. After a comprehensive overview of the socio-emotional impairments associated with VPT birth, three main models of socio-emotional development are presented and discussed. These focus on biological vulnerability, early life adversities and parenting, respectively. To conclude, a developmental framework is used to consider different pathways linking VPT birth to psychopathology, taking into account the interaction between medical, biological, and psychosocial factors.

Reading deficits in very low birthweight children are associated with vocabulary and attention issues at the age of seven

Aim

This Swedish study compared reading skills between seven‐year‐old children with a very low birthweight (VLBW) and controls with a normal birthweight, exploring associations between reading variables and cognition, parent‐rated behaviour, perinatal factors and family factors.

Methods

We studied 51 VLBW children, with no major neurodevelopmental impairments and attending their first year at a regular school, and compared them with the 51 sex‐ and age‐matched controls. The test battery, carried out at 7.8 ± 0.4 years of age, included reading skills, the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children – III and the Child Behaviour Checklist.

Results

Very low birthweight children with a mean birthweight of 1105 g (±291 g) and a gestational age of 28.8 (±2.2) weeks scored significantly lower in all reading subtests and cognition and demonstrated more behavioural problems than normal birthweight controls. We also found significant associations between poor vocabulary, combined with attention problems, and phonological awareness, rapid naming and spelling control. Perinatal factors had no association with reading function, and socio‐economic factors had very few.

Conclusion

Very low birthweight children demonstrated deficits in all reading domains and had poorer cognition and more behavioural problems at the age of seven, with reading ability related to vocabulary and attention.

Prematurity, Birth Weight, and Socioeconomic Status Are Linked to Atypical Diurnal Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Activity in Young Adults

In a prospective, case-controlled longitudinal design, 180 preterm and fullterm infants who had been enrolled at birth participated in a comprehensive assessment battery at age 23. Of these, 149 young adults, 34 formerly full-term and 115 formerly preterm (22 healthy preterm, 48 with medical complications, 21 with neurological complications, and 24 small for gestational age) donated five saliva samples from a single day that were assayed for cortisol to assess diurnal variation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Analyses were conducted to determine whether prematurity category, birth weight, and socioeconomic status were associated with differences in HPA axis function. Pre- and perinatal circumstances associated with prematurity influenced the activity of this environmentally sensitive physiological system. Results are consistent with the theory of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease and highlight a possible mechanism for the link between prematurity and health disparities later in life.

Preterm Birth and Adult Wealth: Mathematics Skills Count

Each year, 15 million babies worldwide are born preterm. Preterm birth is associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes across the life span. Recent registry-based studies suggest that preterm birth is associated with decreased wealth in adulthood, but the mediating mechanisms are unknown. This study investigated whether the relationship between preterm birth and low adult wealth is mediated by poor academic abilities and educational qualifications. Participants were members of two British population-based birth cohorts born in 1958 and 1970, respectively. Results showed that preterm birth was associated with decreased wealth at 42 years of age. This association was mediated by decreased intelligence, reading, and, in particular, mathematics attainment in middle childhood, as well as decreased educational qualifications in young adulthood. Findings were similar in both cohorts, which suggests that these mechanisms may be time invariant. Special educational support in childhood may prevent preterm children from becoming less wealthy as adults.

Profiling the preterm or VLBW born adolescent; implications of the Dutch POPS cohort follow-up studies

In 1983, data of a unique nationwide cohort of 1338 very preterm (<32 weeks of gestation) or VLBW (birth weight<1500g) infants in the Netherlands was collected and followed at several ages until they reached the age of 19 years. At 19 years of age a more extensive follow-up study was done, including questionnaires, tests on a computer and a full physical exam. These studies provide insight into how Dutch adolescents at 19 years of age, who were born very preterm or with a very low birth weight (VLBW), reach adulthood. At 19 years, 705 POPS participants participated (74% of 959 still alive). Outcome measures at 19 years included: physical outcomes (e.g. blood pressure), cognition, behavior, quality of life, and impact of handicaps. The POPS participants showed more impairments on most outcome measures at various ages, compared to norm data. Major handicaps remained stable as the children grew older, but minor handicaps and disabilities increased. At 19 years of age, only half (47.1%) of the survivors had no disabilities and no minor or major handicaps. Especially those born small for gestational age (SGA) seem most vulnerable. These long-term results help to support preterm and SGA born children and adolescents in reaching independent adulthood, and stress the need for long term follow-up studies and to promote prevention of disabilities and of preterm birth itself.