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Open Access 11-03-2024 | Sectio Caesarea

Gestational Age and Neurodevelopmental Delay in Term Births at 6 and 12 Months: The Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS)

Authors: Kentaro Haneda, Mitsuaki Hosoya, Keiya Fujimori, Seiji Yasumura, Hidekazu Nishigori, Masahito Kuse, Hyo Kyozuka, Hajime Maeda, Akiko Sato, Yuka Ogata, Koich Hashimoto, the Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS) Group

Published in: Maternal and Child Health Journal | Issue 6/2024

Abstract

Background

In the recent years, a high risk of developmental delay not only in very low birth weight infants and late preterm infants but also in early term infants (37–38 weeks) have increasingly been reported. However, in Japan, there are virtually no studies regarding the development delays in early term infants.

Methods

This study used the data from the Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS), a birth cohort study conducted in Japan. Data were selected for analysis from the records of 104,065 fetal records. The risk of neurodevelopmental delays at 6 months and 12 months after birth was evaluated using multivariate analysis for infants of various gestational ages, using the 40th week of pregnancy as a reference value. Neurodevelopment was evaluated at 6 months and 12 months after birth using the Ages and Stages Questionnaires, Japanese translation (J-ASQ-3).

Results

The proportion of infants born at a gestational age of 37 to 38 weeks who did not reach the J-ASQ-3 score cutoff value was significantly higher in all areas at both 6 months and 12 months after birth, when compared to that of infants born at 40 weeks. The odds ratio decreased at 12 months after birth compared to that at 6 months after birth.

Conclusion

Early term infants in Japan are at an increased risk of neurodevelopmental delay at 12 months after birth.

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Title: Gestational Age and Neurodevelopmental Delay in Term Births at 6 and 12 Months: The Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS)
Authors: Kentaro Haneda
Mitsuaki Hosoya
Keiya Fujimori
Seiji Yasumura
Hidekazu Nishigori
Masahito Kuse
Hyo Kyozuka
Hajime Maeda
Akiko Sato
Yuka Ogata
Koich Hashimoto
the Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS) Group
Publication date: 11-03-2024
Publisher: Springer US
Keywords: Sectio Caesarea
Sectio Ceasarea
Published in: Maternal and Child Health Journal / Issue 6/2024
Print ISSN: 1092-7875
Electronic ISSN: 1573-6628
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-024-03908-4

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Gestational Age and Neurodevelopmental Delay in Term Births at 6 and 12 Months: The Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS)

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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