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Do preterm infants with a birth weight ≤1250 g born to single-parent families have poorer neurodevelopmental outcomes at age 3 than those born to two-parent families?

Journal of Perinatology volume 38, pages 900–907 (2018)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective

Investigate neurodevelopmental outcomes at 3 years corrected age in infants with a birth weight ≤1250 g born to single parents.

Study Design

Infants born between 1995 and 2010 with a birth weight ≤1250 g were considered eligible. Primary outcome was neurodevelopmental impairment; considered present if a child had any of the following: cerebral palsy, cognitive delay, visual impairment, or deafness/neurosensory hearing impairment. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed.

Result

A total of 1900 infants were eligible for inclusion. Follow-up data were available for 1395; 88 were born to a single parent. Infants in the single-parent group had higher mortality (18% vs. 11%, p = 0.009), IQ ≥1 SD below the mean (40% vs. 21%, p = 0.001) and any neurodevelopmental impairment (47% vs. 29%, p = 0.003). Single-parent family status, maternal education, bronchopulmonary dysplasia and severe neurological injury were significant predictors of intellectual impairment at 3 years corrected age.

Conclusion

Preterm infants with a birth weight ≤1250 g born to single parents at birth have poorer intellectual functioning at 3 years corrected age.

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Author contributions

A.K.L. made substantial contributions to research design, acquired, analyzed and interpreted the data; helped draft the paper, revised it critically and approved the submitted and final versions. J.L., K.E., A.r.L. and V.G. helped to collect data, draft and revise the manuscript and approved the submitted and final versions. S.T. analyzed and interpreted the data and approved the submitted and final versions of the manuscript. D.C. interpreted psychological data, and critically revised and approved the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Alberta Health Services, University of Calgary, Calgary, AL, Canada

    Abhay Lodha, Jahan Lakhani, Selphee Tang & Dianne Creighton

  2. Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AL, Canada

    Abhay Lodha & Dianne Creighton

  3. Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, AL, Canada

    Abhay Lodha & Krystyna Ediger

  4. Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AL, Canada

    Abhay Lodha

  5. Graduate Department, University of Calgary, Calgary, AL, Canada

    Arijit Lodha & Vardhil Gandhi

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  1. Abhay Lodha
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Correspondence to Abhay Lodha.

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Lodha, A., Lakhani, J., Ediger, K. et al. Do preterm infants with a birth weight ≤1250 g born to single-parent families have poorer neurodevelopmental outcomes at age 3 than those born to two-parent families?. J Perinatol 38, 900–907 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-018-0118-7

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