Association between head circumference at two years and second and fifth year cognition
Beena Koshy1, Manikandan Srinivasan2, Timiri Palani Murugan3
1Developmental Paediatrics Unit, Christian Medical College, Vellore, 632004, India. beenakurien@cmcvellore.ac.in.
BMC Pediatrics
|February 12, 2021
Summary
Smaller head circumference (HC) in early childhood is linked to lower cognitive scores later. This finding suggests HC measurement can be a cost-effective screening tool for identifying at-risk children in low-resource settings.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Public Health in LMICs
Background:
- Head circumference (HC) measurement is not routinely performed in early childhood, with existing literature offering conflicting views on its utility.
- The study addresses the need for clarity on HC's role in child development monitoring.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the association between head circumference (HC) at two years of age and cognitive development at two and five years of age.
- To investigate the potential of HC as an early screening tool in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
Main Methods:
- A community-based birth cohort in Vellore, India, followed children from birth to five years.
- Head circumference (HC) at two years was the exposure variable, with cognitive assessments using the Bayley Scale of Infant Development at two years and Wechsler Preschool Primary Scales of Intelligence at five years.
Main Results:
- Children with HC below -3 Standard Deviations (SD) at two years showed significantly lower cognitive scores at two years (-2.21 points).
- These children also exhibited lower verbal (-7.35 points) and performance (-7.07 points) intelligence scores at five years of age.
Conclusions:
- A smaller head circumference (HC) at two years of age is negatively associated with cognitive function at both two and five years.
- Early childhood HC measurements can serve as an inexpensive screening method to identify children at risk in LMIC settings.
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