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Published in: European Journal of Pediatrics 10/2009

01-10-2009 | Original Paper

Determinants of cognitive ability at 7 years: a longitudinal case–control study of children born small-for-gestational age at term

Authors: Reremoana F. Theodore, John M. D. Thompson, Karen E. Waldie, David M. O. Becroft, Elizabeth Robinson, Chris J. Wild, Phillipa M. Clark, Ed A. Mitchell

Published in: European Journal of Pediatrics | Issue 10/2009

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify the determinants of children’s intelligence at 7 years, including pregnancy, postnatal, demographic factors, and small-for-gestational age (SGA) birth at term. Information was collected at birth (n = 871), 1 year (n = 744), 3.5 years (n = 550), and 7 years (n = 591). Approximately half of the children in this study were born SGA (birthweight ≤10th percentile). There was no significant difference found between IQ scores for SGA children compared to AGA children, after adjustment for potential confounders (p = 0.45). Paternal education, developmental delay, and birth order were associated with intelligence scores at 7 years in the multiple regression analysis. This study found no long-term effect of SGA birth at term on intelligence in middle childhood. Potentially modifiable postnatal and demographic factors were found to be strong predictors of intelligence at 7 years.
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Metadata
Title
Determinants of cognitive ability at 7 years: a longitudinal case–control study of children born small-for-gestational age at term
Authors
Reremoana F. Theodore
John M. D. Thompson
Karen E. Waldie
David M. O. Becroft
Elizabeth Robinson
Chris J. Wild
Phillipa M. Clark
Ed A. Mitchell
Publication date
01-10-2009
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
European Journal of Pediatrics / Issue 10/2009
Print ISSN: 0340-6199
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1076
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-008-0913-9

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