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Perinatal medical variables predict executive function within a sample of preschoolers born very low birth weight

Susanne W Duvall1, Sarah J Erickson2, Peggy MacLean3

  • 1Oregon Health & Science University, Institute on Development & Disability, Portland, OR, USA duvall@ohsu.edu.

Journal of Child Neurology
|August 14, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Very low birth weight preschoolers

Area of Science:

  • Developmental neuroscience
  • Pediatric neurology
  • Cognitive development

Background:

  • Infants born with very low birth weight (VLBW) face increased risks for neurodevelopmental challenges.
  • Early executive function deficits are common in VLBW survivors and can impact long-term outcomes.
  • Identifying perinatal risk factors is crucial for timely intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine which perinatal factors predict early executive dysfunction in preschoolers born VLBW.
  • To establish relationships between specific medical severity factors and executive function domains.

Main Methods:

  • Fifty-seven VLBW preschoolers completed three executive function tasks: Dimensional Change Card Sort-Separated, Bear Dragon, and Gift Delay Open.
  • Multiple linear and logistic regression analyses were used to examine associations between executive function and perinatal factors (gestational age, ventilation days, size for gestational age, maternal steroids, surgeries).

Main Results:

  • Gestational age was a significant predictor for performance on the Bear Dragon and Gift Delay Open tasks.
  • Number of surgeries and maternal steroid exposure predicted performance on the Dimensional Change Card Sort-Separated task.
  • Specific perinatal medical severity factors were differentially associated with distinct executive function skills.

Conclusions:

  • Perinatal factors, including gestational age, maternal steroid use, and surgical history, are linked to early executive function outcomes in VLBW preschoolers.
  • These findings can help identify high-risk individuals for targeted early intervention.
  • Understanding these relationships supports the development of focused support for VLBW children.

Keywords:
cognitive functiongestational ageoutcomepreterm child

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