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Pune low birth weight study - birth to adulthood - cognitive development

Sudha Chaudhari1, Madhumati Otiv, Bharati Khairnar

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, KEM Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India. Correspondence to: Dr Sudha Chaudhari, Consultant, Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, KEM Hospital Research Centre, Pune 411 011, Maharashtra, India. kemhrc@vsnl.net.

Indian Pediatrics
|June 27, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Low birth weight (LBW) infants showed lower intelligence quotient (IQ) at 18 years compared to controls. Preterm SGA males had the lowest IQ, but maternal education and socioeconomic status positively impacted cognitive development.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Low birth weight (LBW) is a significant risk factor for developmental challenges.
  • Long-term cognitive outcomes for non-handicapped LBW infants require further investigation.
  • Understanding factors influencing cognitive development in LBW individuals is crucial for early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the cognitive development, specifically intelligence quotient (IQ), of non-handicapped low birth weight (LBW) infants at 18 years of age.
  • To compare cognitive outcomes between different LBW subgroups and term-born controls.
  • To identify factors influencing cognitive development in LBW individuals.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective cohort study followed 161 LBW infants born between 1987-1989 until age 18.
  • Intelligence quotient (IQ) was assessed using Ravens progressive matrices; adjustment and aptitude were also evaluated.
  • Participants were categorized by gestational age and growth status: preterm SGA, full term SGA, and preterm AGA, with term AGA infants as controls.

Main Results:

  • The LBW cohort exhibited a significantly lower mean IQ (Percentile 39.3) compared to controls (Percentile 54.9).
  • Preterm SGA infants had the lowest IQ (Percentile 35.5), and males in the study group showed significantly lower IQ than male controls.
  • Higher IQ in preterm SGA subjects was associated with maternal college education and higher socioeconomic status. Early IQ at 6 and 12 years strongly predicted 18-year IQ.

Conclusions:

  • Preterm SGA children demonstrate the lowest cognitive function at 18 years, with males exhibiting lower IQs.
  • Maternal education and socioeconomic status significantly influence cognitive development in LBW individuals.
  • Cognitive development at 18 years can be reliably predicted by IQ assessments at ages 6 and 12 years.
Abstract

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