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Growth, development and behaviour in adolescents born small-for-gestational-age
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Science, School of Medicine, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health
|October 1, 1995
Summary
Children born small-for-gestational-age (SGA) experience lasting effects into adolescence, showing reduced growth, lower cognitive scores, and increased behavioral issues compared to appropriate-for-gestational-age peers.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Adolescent Health
- Longitudinal Cohort Studies
Background:
- Small-for-gestational-age (SGA) birth is a significant concern in perinatal and developmental health.
- Understanding the long-term sequelae of SGA birth into adolescence is crucial for intervention and support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of being born small-for-gestational-age (SGA) on adolescents.
- To compare growth, cognitive development, and behavioral outcomes in SGA versus appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) individuals up to age 18.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal cohort study tracking growth, cognitive performance, and behavior.
- Comparison of 91 SGA subjects with 1037 AGA subjects on physical and developmental measures.
- Data collected up to 18 years of age, including height, weight, head circumference, cognitive tests (WISC-R), and parent-rated behavior.
Main Results:
- SGA subjects were significantly shorter and lighter at 18 years compared to AGA counterparts.
- At age 13, SGA adolescents exhibited lower scores on WISC-R cognitive assessments.
- Parents reported more behavioral problems in SGA adolescents at age 15.
Conclusions:
- Small-for-gestational-age birth has persistent effects extending beyond childhood.
- SGA is associated with long-term challenges in physical growth, cognitive function, and behavior during adolescence.