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Cognitive and psychosocial development concerns in children born small for gestational age

Peter A Lee1, Christopher P W Houk

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Penn State College of Medicine, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA 17033-0850, USA. plee@psu.edu

Pediatric Endocrinology Reviews : PER
|April 2, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Infants born small for gestational age (SGA) often experience poorer cognitive function and head growth. Catch-up growth is crucial for better outcomes, though psychosocial development impacts remain unclear.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Pediatric Endocrinology

Background:

  • Infants born small for gestational age (SGA) exhibit poorer cognitive function compared to appropriate for gestational age (AGA) infants.
  • Poorer outcomes in SGA infants are linked to smaller size and lack of postnatal catch-up growth, observed from childhood to young adulthood.
  • Diminished head circumference at birth and subsequent growth are also associated with adverse outcomes in SGA infants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the existing literature on the neurodevelopmental and psychosocial outcomes of infants born small for gestational age (SGA).
  • To examine the potential role of growth hormone (GH) therapy in improving outcomes for SGA infants.
  • To highlight the limitations and variability in current research regarding SGA outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of existing studies on SGA infant outcomes.
  • Analysis of cognitive and psychosocial development data in SGA populations.
  • Evaluation of studies investigating the effects of growth hormone (GH) therapy on SGA infants.

Main Results:

  • Consistent evidence indicates poorer cognitive function in SGA infants compared to AGA peers.
  • Growth hormone (GH) therapy has been associated with increased head circumference standard deviation scores in SGA infants.
  • The impact of SGA birth on psychosocial development remains largely undetermined.

Conclusions:

  • While SGA is linked to poorer cognitive function and head growth, psychosocial outcomes require further investigation.
  • Growth hormone (GH) therapy may influence head growth but has not demonstrated clear benefits for cognitive or psychosocial outcomes.
  • Current data on SGA outcomes should be interpreted cautiously due to variations in study populations, SGA definitions, and etiology.

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