Diffusion tensor imaging is associated with motor outcomes of very preterm born children at 11 years of age

Developmental coordination disorder in preterm children: A systematic review and meta-analysis

This study aimed to review the prevalence of developmental coordination disorder (DCD) in individuals born preterm and systematically explore this prevalence according to gestational age and different assessment cut-offs and compare it to full-term peers. The eligibility criteria were observational and experimental studies reporting the prevalence of DCD in preterm individuals. A systematic search was performed in databases from inception until March 2022. Two independent reviewers performed the selection. Study quality assessment was performed using the checklists from Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI). Data analysis was performed on Excel and Review Manager Software 5.4. Among the 1774 studies identified, 32 matched the eligibility criteria. The pooled estimate rate of the DCD rate in preterm was 21% (95% confidence interval [CI] 17.8-24.3). The estimate rates were higher as gestational age decreased, and preterm children are two times more likely to have DCD than their full-term peers risk ratio (RR) 2.2 (95% CI 1.77-2.79). The limitation was high heterogeneity between studies; the assessment tools, cut-off points and age at assessment were diverse. This study provided evidence that preterm children are at higher risk for DCD than full-term children, and the risks increased as gestational age decreased.

Ataxia Rating Scales Reveal Increased Scores in Very Preterm Born 5-6-Year-Old Preschool Children and Young Adults

The aim of this study is to investigate whether scores in ataxia rating scales (ARS) are different in very preterm (VP) preschool and adult participants compared to term controls. This is a case-control study. Sixty VP children (years: 5.5-6.5; gestational age: 23.9-31.7 weeks) and 56 VP adults (years: 17.8-27.9; gestational age: 23.3-32.0 weeks) without major cerebral lesions participated in the study; 60-age and sex-matched term children and 64 term adults for comparison were used in the study intervened with the assessment with International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS) and Scale for Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA). Main outcome measures are primary outcome: total icars and sara scores in preterm (vp) participants versus controls. Results showed that VP children showed significantly higher total ICARS (M 15.98, SD 6.29, range 4.0-32.0; p < .001) and SARA scores (M 6.5, SD 2.53, range 1.0-15.0; p < .001) than controls (ICARS: M 9.17, SD 3.88, range 2.0-20.0; SARA: M 3.51, SD 1.54, range 1.0-8.0). VP adults also showed significantly higher total ICARS (M 1.0, SD 1.99, range 0.0-11.0; p < .001) and SARA scores (M 0.54, SD 1.08, range 0.0-6.0; p < .001) than controls (ICARS: M 0.11, SD 0.44, range 0.0-2.0; SARA: M 0.04, SD 0.18, range 0.0-1.0). In conclusion, VP children showed significantly higher scores in ARS than controls. These differences were also present in VP adults, suggesting that deficits likely prevail until adulthood. ARS are a time and cost-effective method to screen for difficulties in coordination and balance in a patient group at risk.

The impact of susceptibility correction on diffusion metrics in adolescents

BACKGROUND

Diffusion tensor imaging is a widely used imaging method of brain white matter, but it is prone to imaging artifacts. The data corrections can affect the measured values.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the impact of susceptibility correction on diffusion metrics.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cohort of 27 healthy adolescents (18 boys, 9 girls, mean age 12.7 years) underwent 3-T MRI, and we collected two diffusion data sets (anterior-posterior). The data were processed both with and without susceptibility artifact correction. We derived fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity and histogram data of fiber length distribution from both the corrected and uncorrected data, which were collected from the corpus callosum, corticospinal tract and cingulum bilaterally.

RESULTS

Fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity values significantly differed when comparing the pathways in all measured tracts. The fractional anisotropy values were lower and the mean diffusivity values higher in the susceptibility-corrected data than in the uncorrected data. We found a significant difference in total tract length in the corpus callosum and the corticospinal tract.

CONCLUSION

This study indicates that susceptibility correction has a significant effect on measured fractional anisotropy, and on mean diffusivity values and tract lengths. To receive reliable and comparable results, the correction should be used systematically.

Preterm children's developmental coordination disorder, cognition and quality of life: a prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the rate of developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and its correlation to cognition and self-experienced health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children born very preterm.

DESIGN

Prospective follow-up study.

SETTING

Regional population of children born very preterm in Turku University Hospital, Finland, in 2001-2006.

PATIENTS

A total of 170 children born very preterm were followed up until 11 years of age.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Motor and cognitive outcomes were evaluated using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children - Second Edition (Movement ABC-2) and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children - Fourth Edition, respectively, and HRQoL using the 17-Dimensional Illustrated Questionnaire (17D). The Touwen neurological examination was performed to exclude other neurological conditions affecting the motor outcome.

RESULTS

Eighteen children born very preterm (17 boys) (11.3%) had DCD, defined as Movement ABC-2 total test score ≤5th percentile. A positive correlation between motor and cognitive outcome (r=0.22, p=0.006) was found. Children born very preterm with DCD had lower cognitive scores than those without DCD (Full-Scale IQ mean 76.8 vs 91.6, p=0.001). Moreover, children born very preterm with DCD reported lower HRQoL than children born very preterm without motor impairment (17D mean 0.93 vs 0.96, p=0.03). However, HRQoL was higher in this group of children born very preterm compared with population-based normative test results (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

DCD was still common at 11 years of age in children born very preterm in 2000s. DCD associated with adverse cognitive development and lower self-experienced HRQoL. However, this group of children born very preterm reported better HRQoL in comparison with Finnish norms.