Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 20, 2026
Author Spotlight: Alleviating Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy with Safe and Effective Auricular Acupuncture
Published on: August 4, 2023
Incidence of epilepsy in children born prematurely and small for gestational age at term gestation: A
I-Ching Chou1,2, Fung-Chang Sung3,4, Syuan-Yu Hong1
1Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Insights
Preterm and small for gestational age infants face a higher risk of developing epilepsy. This risk increases with lower birth weight and is linked to perinatal complications like brain anomalies.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Neurology
- Pediatric Epilepsy
- Perinatal Medicine
Background:
- Epilepsy incidence is a significant concern in neonatal care.
- Preterm birth and small for gestational age (SGA) status are known risk factors for adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes.
- Understanding epilepsy risk in these vulnerable populations is crucial for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the incidence of epilepsy in preterm and SGA infants.
- To identify specific risk factors associated with epilepsy in these infant groups.
- To analyze the impact of birth weight and perinatal complications on epilepsy risk.
Main Methods:
- A large cohort study including preterm (n=21,474), SGA (n=2,206), and matched control (n=94,720) infants born between 2000-2010.
- Cox regression analysis was employed to evaluate epilepsy risk in preterm and SGA cohorts.
- Infants were stratified by common brain development complications and birth weight (BW) subgroups to identify associated factors.
Main Results:
- Significantly higher cumulative epilepsy incidence was observed in preterm and SGA infants compared to controls.
- Incidence densities (per 1000 person-years) varied: preterm (2.96), SGA (2.90), preterm with cerebral hemorrhage (15.9), SGA with cerebral hemorrhage (14.6), preterm with asphyxia (6.92), SGA with asphyxia (3.82), preterm with brain anomalies (14.3), SGA with brain anomalies (25.4).
- Lower birth weight (BW < 1000g) was associated with a higher epilepsy incidence.
Conclusions:
- Preterm and SGA infants exhibit an elevated risk of childhood epilepsy.
- Epilepsy incidence demonstrates a clear inverse relationship with birth weight.
- Perinatal factors such as intracranial hemorrhage, birth asphyxia, and congenital brain anomalies are strongly associated with increased epilepsy risk.
Aim:
This study assessed the incidence of epilepsy in preterm infants and those small for gestational age (SGA) at term and identified risk factors associated with higher epilepsy incidence in these children.
Methods:
We enrolled children (from 2000 to 2010) who were premature (n = 21 474) or SGA (n = 2206); we then included a matched control cohort (n = 94 720). Cox regression was used to assess the epilepsy risk in preterm and SGA children. To determine the associated factors for epilepsy, the preterm and SGA infants were divided into six groups according to the common complications related to brain development and were separated into three subgroups based on birthweight (BW).
Results:
The cumulative incidence of epilepsy was significantly higher in preterm or SGA children than in the control group. The overall incidence densities (per 1000 person-years) of epilepsy were: 0.37 in the control, 2.96 in the preterm, 2.90 in the SGA, 15.9 in the preterm with cerebral haemorrhage, 14.6 in the SGA with cerebral haemorrhage, 6.92 in the preterm with asphyxia, 3.82 in the SGA with asphyxia, 14.3 in the preterm with congenital brain anomalies, and 25.4 in the SGA with congenital brain anomalies cohorts. Infants with BW < 1000 g had a higher incidence of epilepsy than those with BW ≥2500 g.
Conclusions:
Preterm and SGA infants had an increased risk of epilepsy in childhood, and the incidence of epilepsy increased with decreasing BW. Several perinatal factors (e.g. intracranial haemorrhage, birth asphyxia and congenital brain anomalies) are associated with a higher incidence of later epilepsy.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
05:33Ear Plaster Therapy as a Safe and Effective Treatment for Gestational Vomiting
01:22Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational
07:13Induction of Maternal Immune Activation in Mice at Mid-gestation Stage with Viral Mimic Poly(I:C)
09:57Electromagnetic Source Imaging in Presurgical Evaluation of Children with Drug-Resistant Epilepsy
11:29Measuring the Functional Abilities of Children Aged 3-6 Years Old with Observational Methods and Computer Tools
11:29Anteromesial Temporal Lobectomy for Medically Intractable Temporal Lobe Epilepsy: An Operative Study