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Updated: Jul 4, 2025
Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
Short-term neonatal and long-term neurodevelopmental outcome of children born term low birth weight
Ho Yeon Kim1, Geum Joon Cho2, Ki Hoon Ahn1
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Korea University College of Medicine, 148 Gurodong-Ro, Guro-Gu, Seoul, 08308, Republic of Korea.
Insights
Term low birth weight (LBW) in infants is linked to significant neurodevelopmental disorders by age 5-7. This finding highlights the importance of monitoring children born with low birth weight for long-term health.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Public Health
Background:
- Term low birth weight (LBW) affects a notable percentage of newborns.
- Understanding the long-term neurodevelopmental consequences of term LBW is crucial for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between term LBW and neurodevelopmental outcomes in children aged 5-7 years.
- To identify specific neurodevelopmental disorders associated with term LBW.
Main Methods:
- Population-based cohort study utilizing national health insurance and screening data from South Korea (2013-2020).
- Inclusion of women with term births (≥37 weeks gestation) and analysis of their children's neurodevelopmental surveillance.
- Cox proportional hazard analysis was employed to assess risks.
Main Results:
- 3.8% of 830,806 newborns had term LBW (less than 2500g).
- Term LBW was significantly associated with developmental delays (overall, motor, cognitive), autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, and seizures.
- Children with term LBW exhibited increased vulnerability to neurodevelopmental disorders.
Conclusions:
- Term LBW is a risk factor for a range of neurodevelopmental disorders in early childhood.
- Findings underscore the need for continued surveillance and support for children born with term LBW.
- This research supports enhanced parental counseling on the long-term implications of term LBW.
Abstract:
This study aimed to examine the impact of term LBW on short-term neonatal and long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes in children 5-7 years of age. This is a population-based cohort study that merged national data from the Korea National Health Insurance claims and National Health Screening Program for Infants and Children. The participants were women who gave birth at a gestational age of ≥ 37 weeks between 2013 and 2015 in the Republic of Korea, and were tracked during 2020 for the neurodevelopmental surveillance of their children. Among 830,806 women who gave birth during the study period, 31,700 (3.8%) of their babies weighed less than 2500 g. By Cox proportional hazard analysis, children aged 5-7 years who had LBW were associated with any developmental, motor developmental delay, cognitive developmental delay, autism spectrum, attention deficit hyperactivity disorders, and epileptic and febrile seizures.Children born with term LBW were more vulnerable to neurodevelopmental disorders at 5-7 years of age than those with normal and large birth weights. This study further substantiates counseling parents regarding the long-term outcomes of children being born underweight.
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