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Effect of home and hospital delivery on long-term cognitive function
H T Sørensen1, F H Steffensen, K J Rothman
1Department of Medicine V, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark.
Insights
Home birth may be associated with lower cognitive function in adulthood. This study analyzed Danish conscripts, finding differences in cognitive scores based on birth location after adjusting for various factors.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Developmental Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- The location of birth may influence child development and long-term health outcomes.
- Understanding factors affecting cognitive function is crucial for early intervention and support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between place of birth (home vs. hospital/birth clinic) and cognitive function in young adulthood.
- To analyze cognitive performance in Danish conscripts based on their birth location.
Main Methods:
- Historical cohort study utilizing the Danish Medical Birth Registry.
- Cognitive function assessed using the Boerge Prien test in 4,296 male conscripts (born 1973-1976).
- Statistical adjustments for birth weight, length, birth order, gestational age, maternal age, and socioeconomic factors.
Main Results:
- Conscripts born at home (n=123) had a mean Boerge Prien test score 2.1 points lower than those born in specialized hospital departments (n=4,173).
- Conscripts born in birth clinics showed slightly higher scores (2.4 points higher) than those born in specialized hospital departments.
- Adjusted analyses indicated a statistically significant association between home birth and lower cognitive function.
Conclusions:
- Findings suggest a potential link between home birth and reduced cognitive function in adulthood.
- Further research is needed to differentiate between planned and unplanned home births and explore underlying mechanisms.
Abstract:
We examined the relation between place of birth and cognitive function in young adult life in a historical cohort study based upon birth data from the computerized Danish Medical Birth Registry and cognitive function as measured at time of drafting for military service in two Danish counties. The cohort included 4,296 Danish conscripts born between 1973 and 1976, 123 born at home and 4,173 born in hospital or at a birth clinic. Cognitive function was measured by the Boerge Prien test in men, 18 to 20 years of age. The highest possible score is 78. The mean Boerge Prien test score was 43.1 for conscripts born in specialized hospital departments, 2.4 higher for conscripts born in a birth clinic (95% confidence interval = 0.9-4.0), and 2.1 lower for conscripts born at home (95% confidence limits = -3.8 to -0.4) after adjusting for birth weight, length at birth, birth order, gestational age, maternal age, and marital and occupational status. Our findings raise the possibility that home birth can lead to lower cognitive function in adulthood; however, from our data we could not distinguish between planned and unplanned births at home.
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