Social variables predict gains in cognitive scores across the preschool years in children with birth weights 500 to 1250 grams.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the extent that social variables influence cognitive development of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants across the preschool years.

STUDY DESIGN:

Participants were VLBW (500-1250 g) children enrolled in the Caffeine for Apnea of Prematurity randomized trial between 1999 and 2004. We investigated the relationships between 4 potential social advantages: higher maternal education, higher paternal education, caregiver employment, and 2 biologic parents in the same home--and gain in cognitive scores. Cognitive assessments were performed at the corrected ages of 18 months (Mental Development Index score on the Bayley Scales of Infant Development II) and 5 years (Full Scale IQ on the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence III). Cognitive gain was computed by subtracting each individual 18-month Mental Development Index score from the corresponding Full Scale IQ at 5 years.

RESULTS:

Data were available for 1347 children. Mean (SD) cognitive scores were 90.8 (15.7) at 18 months and 98.9 (14.5) at 5 years. Multivariable regression showed that higher maternal education, higher paternal education, and caregiver employment had independent and additive effects of similar size on cognitive gain (P < .001); the mean cognitive gain between 18 months and 5 years increased by 3.6 points in the presence of each of these advantages. When all 3 were present, cognitive scores improved on average by 10.9 points compared with children without any of these advantages.

CONCLUSION:

In VLBW children, a count of 3 social advantages strongly predicts gains in cognitive scores across the preschool years.

• Authors: Brett J Manley, Robin S Roberts, Lex W Doyle, Barbara Schmidt, Peter J Anderson, Keith J Barrington, Birgitta Böhm, Agneta Golan, Aleid G van Wassenaer-Leemhuis, Peter G Davis, Caffeine for Apnea of Prematurity (CAP) Trial Investigators, Caffeine for Apnea of Prematurity CAP Trial Investigators
• Journal: The Journal of pediatrics (J Pediatr) Vol. 166 Issue 4 Pg. 870-6.e1-2 (Apr 2015) ISSN: 1097-6833 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 25641237 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Birth Weight (physiology)
• Child Development (physiology)
• Child, Preschool
• Cognition (physiology)
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Infant
• Infant, Premature
• Infant, Very Low Birth Weight (physiology)
• Intelligence (physiology)
• Male
• Prognosis
• Retrospective Studies