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Risks for low intellectual performance related to being born small for gestational age are modified by gestational

Niklas Bergvall1, Anastasia Iliadou, Stefan Johansson

  • 1Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, PO Box 281, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden. niklas.bergvall@meb.ki.se

Pediatrics
|March 3, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Being small for gestational age (SGA) impacts intellectual performance differently based on gestational age. Head circumference and birth length are crucial for intellectual development, especially in early gestation.

Area of Science:

  • Perinatal Medicine
  • Developmental Neuroscience
  • Pediatric Epidemiology

Background:

  • Small for gestational age (SGA) is linked to adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes.
  • The role of specific anthropometric measures beyond birth weight in this association is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if gestational age modifies the association between being born small for gestational age (SGA) and the risk of low intellectual performance.
  • To explore the impact of different anthropometric measures (birth weight, length, head circumference) on intellectual performance in relation to gestational age.

Main Methods:

  • A population-based cohort study of 352,125 Swedish boys born between 1973-1981.
  • Assessed risk for low intellectual performance at military conscription using odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals.

Main Results:

  • Preterm SGA boys with very low birth weight were not at increased risk for low intellectual performance.
  • Preterm SGA boys with very short birth length or small head circumference had a doubled risk for low intellectual performance.
  • Term SGA boys (regardless of birth weight, length, or head circumference) showed an increased risk for low intellectual performance.

Conclusions:

  • Fetal growth in length and head circumference may be more critical for intellectual development than weight gain during early gestation.
  • Future research on size at birth and intellectual performance should incorporate anthropometric measurements beyond birth weight.
Abstract

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