Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 4, 2025

Author Spotlight: Collecting the Brain and Serum from the Same Mice Fetus to Study Brain Tumor Development
05:44

Author Spotlight: Collecting the Brain and Serum from the Same Mice Fetus to Study Brain Tumor Development

Published on: May 17, 2024

749

Association between birth weight and neurodevelopmental disorders assessed using the Korean National Health Insurance

In Gyu Song1,2, Han-Suk Kim3, Yoon-Min Cho4

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Severance Children's Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.

Scientific Reports
|February 9, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Low birth weight (LBW) in infants is linked to higher risks of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Even babies under 2.5 kg showed increased odds of these neurodevelopmental disorders.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Low birth weight (LBW) is a known risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders, but the association with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) requires further investigation.
  • Existing research on the link between LBW and neurodevelopmental outcomes is debated, necessitating large-scale studies to clarify these risks.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between infant birth weight and the risk of developing ADHD and ASD in school-aged children.
  • To determine if birth weight categories, particularly those below 2.5 kg, correlate with increased odds of ADHD and ASD diagnoses.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective cohort study utilizing Korean National Health Insurance claims data.
  • Inclusion of 2,143,652 children born between 2008 and 2012.
  • Analysis of ADHD and ASD diagnoses based on birth weight categories, with subgroup analysis excluding perinatal diseases.

Main Results:

  • Infants with birth weights <1.5 kg, 1.5-1.9 kg, and 2.0-2.4 kg showed significantly increased odds of ADHD.
  • Infants with birth weights 1.5-1.9 kg and 2.0-2.4 kg had substantially higher odds of ASD.
  • These associations persisted even in children without perinatal diseases, indicating birth weight as an independent risk factor.

Conclusions:

  • Infants born with birth weights below 2.5 kg are at an elevated risk for both ADHD and ASD.
  • The findings underscore the importance of close clinical monitoring and follow-up for all low birth weight infants.
  • This study highlights birth weight as a critical factor in the development of neurodevelopmental disorders, irrespective of perinatal complications.

More Related Videos

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

86.6K
Neurobehavioral Assessments in a Mouse Model of Neonatal Hypoxic-ischemic Brain Injury08:32

Neurobehavioral Assessments in a Mouse Model of Neonatal Hypoxic-ischemic Brain Injury

Published on: November 24, 2017

12.5K

Related Concept Videos

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder01:30

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It affects approximately 5-8% of children globally, with around 60-70% of cases persisting into adulthood. ADHD has significant implications for educational attainment, social interactions, and occupational success.
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....
413
Intellectual Disability01:29

Intellectual Disability

Intellectual disability (ID) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by deficits in intellectual and adaptive functioning that manifest during the developmental period. This condition encompasses challenges in reasoning, memory, problem-solving, and learning, accompanied by impairments in everyday life skills, such as communication, self-care, and social interactions. Intellectual disability affects approximately 1% of the population in the United States, impacting an estimated 5...
193
Regression Toward the Mean01:52

Regression Toward the Mean

Regression toward the mean (“RTM”) is a phenomenon in which extremely high or low values—for example, and individual’s blood pressure at a particular moment—appear closer to a group’s average upon remeasuring. Although this statistical peculiarity is the result of random error and chance, it has been problematic across various medical, scientific, financial and psychological applications. In particular, RTM, if not taken into account, can interfere when...
6.5K