Abstract
Background: Few follow up studies of Very Low Birthweight (VLBW) children are conducted longitudinally. We have performed repeated follow up examinations of a cohort of VLBW children and their controls. At 9 years of age the VLBW children lagged behind in anthropometric measurements, but also in academic achievements. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the differences noted at 9 years persisted at 15 years of age.
Methods: This is a population based study including all surviving VLBW children (n= 86) born during a 15 month period in 1987 to 1988 within the Southeast region of Sweden and normal birth weight controls (n= 86). The following assessments and tests were performed: anthropometric measurements, state of puberty, motor skills (Bruininks-Oseretsky test), intellectual ability (Raven's matrices at 9 years, Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children; WISC-III at 15 years of age), reading ability and word decoding skills.
Results: Three children with cerebral palsy (CP) were not included in the follow up study. Two children with CP participated. 62 VLBW children and 56 controls could be examined up to 15 years. Growth: There were no differences between VLBW- and control-groups at 15 years of age in stages of puberty. VLBW boys and girls were significantly shorter and lighter, whereas VLBW girls had smaller head circumference compared with controls at both ages. Motor skills: There were no significant difference between female VLBW and controls in total score of motor skills, whereas male VLBW children showed impaired motor skills compared to male controls. Academic achievement tests: There were significant differences for most tests at both 9 and 15 years of age. VLBW children improved their reading skills as much as the controls between these investigations. However, the differences between VLBW children and controls in the WISC test seemed to increase between 9 and 15 years of age, both in composite and subscales.
Conclusion: VLBW children differed significantly from controls in growth both at 9 and 15 years of age. Differences in intellectual ability seemed to increase with time.
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Gaddlin, P., Finnstrom, O., Johansson, L. et al. 89 Growth, Motor Skills and Intellectual Development Between 9 and 15 Years of Age in Very Low Birthweight Children and Controls. Pediatr Res 56, 479 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-200409000-00112
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-200409000-00112