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Risk for developmental coordination disorder correlates with gestational age at birth
Jin Liang Zhu1, Jørn Olsen, Annette W Olesen
1Section of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark. zjl@soci.au.dk
Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology
|October 16, 2012
Summary
Children born earlier than 40 weeks have an increased risk of developmental coordination disorder (DCD). Each week of earlier birth increases DCD risk by 19%, highlighting the importance of gestational age.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Public Health
Background:
- Preterm birth is linked to higher rates of developmental coordination disorder (DCD) in children.
- The association between a broader range of gestational ages and DCD risk requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between gestational age at birth and the risk of developmental coordination disorder (DCD).
- To determine if the risk of DCD extends beyond very preterm infants across a wider spectrum of gestational ages.
Main Methods:
- Utilized 7-year follow-up data from 22,898 singletons in the Danish National Birth Cohort.
- Assessed probable DCD using the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCDQ) score (≤46).
- Obtained gestational age data from the Medical Birth Register.
Main Results:
- A significant inverse association was found between gestational age and DCD risk.
- Each week decrease in gestational age before 40 weeks correlated with a 19% increased risk of DCD.
- No increased DCD risk was observed in post-term infants.
Conclusions:
- Short gestational age, up to 37 weeks, is associated with an elevated risk of developmental coordination disorder.
- Gestational age is a critical factor influencing DCD risk in early childhood.
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