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Postnatal growth restriction and neurodevelopment at 5 years of age: a European extremely preterm birth cohort study

Rym El Rafei1,2, Rolf Felix Maier3, Pierre Henri Jarreau4

  • 1Université Paris Cité, Inserm, INRAE, Centre for Research in Epidemiology and StatisticS (CRESS), Obstetrical Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology Research Team, EPOPé, F-75004 Paris, France rym.elrafei@gmail.com.

Archives of Disease in Childhood. Fetal and Neonatal Edition
|March 3, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Severe extrauterine growth restriction (EUGR) in extremely preterm infants is linked to lower IQ scores at age 5. This study highlights the impact of neonatal growth on long-term cognitive development in very premature babies.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatalogy
  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Pediatric Neurology

Background:

  • Extrauterine growth restriction (EUGR) is a common complication in extremely preterm (EPT) infants.
  • The long-term neurodevelopmental consequences of EUGR, particularly by sex, require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the association between EUGR in EPT infants and the development of cerebral palsy (CP), cognitive, and motor abilities at 5 years of age.
  • To determine if sex influences the relationship between EUGR and neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • A population-based cohort study included 957 EPT infants (<28 weeks gestation) from 11 European countries.
  • EUGR was assessed using Fenton's growth charts and Patel's weight-gain velocity formula.
  • Neurodevelopmental outcomes at 5 years included CP diagnosis, intelligence quotient (IQ), and motor function assessments.

Main Results:

  • Severe EUGR, defined by both Fenton and Patel methods, was identified in 33.9% and 26.3% of infants, respectively.
  • Children with severe EUGR showed significantly lower IQ scores at 5 years compared to those without EUGR, irrespective of sex.
  • No significant associations were found between EUGR and CP diagnosis or motor function.

Conclusions:

  • Severe EUGR in EPT infants is associated with reduced IQ at 5 years of age.
  • These findings underscore the importance of monitoring and optimizing growth in EPT infants to support cognitive development.
Abstract

Keywords:
child developmentepidemiologygrowthpaediatrics

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