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Gestational age, birth weight, and the risk of hyperkinetic disorder

K M Linnet1, K Wisborg, E Agerbo

  • 1Perinatal Epidemiology Research Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Pediatrics, Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby, DK-8200 Aarhus N, Denmark. kmlinnet@ki.au.dk

Archives of Disease in Childhood
|June 7, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Preterm birth and low birth weight increase the risk of hyperkinetic disorder (HKD). Even babies born close to term or with low birth weights face a higher chance of developing HKD.

Area of Science:

  • Perinatal epidemiology
  • Child psychiatry
  • Developmental neuroscience

Background:

  • Gestational age and birth weight are critical determinants of infant health.
  • Hyperkinetic disorder (HKD), also known as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), is a common neurodevelopmental disorder.
  • Understanding prenatal risk factors for HKD is crucial for early intervention and prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between gestational age, birth weight, and the risk of clinically verified hyperkinetic disorder.
  • To quantify the increased risk of HKD associated with preterm birth and low birth weight.

Main Methods:

  • A nested case-control study design was employed.
  • Utilized incidence density sampling with 834 cases and 20,100 controls.
  • Adjusted for key confounding factors including socioeconomic status, family psychiatric history, and maternal smoking.

Main Results:

  • Children born between 34-36 weeks of gestation had a 70% increased risk of HKD (RR 1.7).
  • Infants born before 34 weeks had a nearly threefold increased risk (RR 2.7).
  • Low birth weight (1500-2499g) in term infants was associated with a 90% increased HKD risk (RR 1.9), with findings consistent after adjusting for gestational age.

Conclusions:

  • Preterm birth, even when close to term, is linked to a higher risk of hyperkinetic disorder.
  • Term infants with low birth weights (1500-2499g) also exhibit an elevated risk of HKD.
  • These findings underscore the public health importance of monitoring and supporting infants born preterm or with low birth weight due to their increased susceptibility to HKD.
Abstract

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