Lower cognitive test scores at age 7 in children born with marginally low birth weight

BackgroundBeing born with very low birth weight (<1500 g) is associated with poorer neurocognition later in life. The aim of this study was to explore neurodevelopmental functions in those born with marginally LBW (2000-2500 g).MethodsThis was originally a randomized controlled trial investigating the effects of early iron supplementation in 285 marginally LBW children. Herein, we explored the combined marginally LBW group and compared their results to 95 normal birth weight (NBW; 2501-4500 g) controls in an observational design. At 7 years, a pediatric psychologist tested the children using Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC IV), Beery-Buktenica developmental test of Visual-Motor Integration (Beery VMI), and Test of Everyday Attention for Children (TEA-Ch).ResultsThe marginally LBW children had lower verbal comprehension intelligence quotient (IQ) (104 vs. 107, P=0.004), lower VMI scores (96.5 vs. 100, P=0.028), and lower total mean TEA-Ch scores (8.5 vs. 9.7, P=0.006), compared to controls. Also, the marginally LBW children group had a higher proportion of children below -1 SD for VMI and TEA-Ch.ConclusionsMarginally LBW children had lower verbal comprehension IQ, lower visual-motor integration, and lower attention performance than NBW children, suggesting an increased risk of cognitive difficulties in early school age.