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Early psychosocial development of small for gestational age and intrauterine growth-restricted children: a systematic review

Journal of Perinatology volume 39, pages 1021–1030 (2019)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective

To examine evidence regarding psychosocial development from one month to four years of age in small for gestational age and intrauterine growth-restricted children.

Study design

Studies were included if participants met criteria for small for gestational age or intrauterine growth restriction, follow-up was from age 1 month to 4 years, methods were described, and appropriate comparison groups were included. Methodological quality of included studies was assessed using quality-appraisal guidelines.

Results

Of 3216 studies reviewed, 24 were included. Poorer psychosocial development was described for small for gestational age children in 15 and for intrauterine growth-restricted children in 3 studies. Only 5 studies measured placental insufficiency using Doppler ultrasound. Study heterogeneity limited synthesis and interpretation.

Conclusions

Although evidence suggests that small for gestational age children are at risk of poorer early childhood psychosocial outcomes, further research is required to clarify whether placental insufficiency is associated with poorer early psychosocial development.

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Funding

Terri Levine received a PhD studentship from Queen’s University Belfast in Northern Ireland. Financial Disclosure: The authors have no financial relationships relevant to this article to disclose.

Author contributions

TAL created the systematic search strategy, conducted the systematic review, assessed the quality of the included studies, drafted the initial manuscript, revised the manuscript critically for important intellectual content, and approved the final manuscript as submitted. REG, FMMA, and FAA participated in creating the systematic search strategy, revised the manuscript critically for important intellectual content, and approved the final manuscript as submitted.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatric Newborn Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Terri A. Levine

  2. School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland

    Terri A. Levine & Fiona A. Alderdice

  3. Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia and B.C. Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Ruth E. Grunau

  4. UCD Perinatal Research Centre, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, Ireland

    Fionnuala M. McAuliffe

  5. National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Oxford University, Oxford, UK

    Fiona A. Alderdice

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  1. Terri A. Levine
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Correspondence to Fiona A. Alderdice.

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Levine, T.A., Grunau, R.E., McAuliffe, F.M. et al. Early psychosocial development of small for gestational age and intrauterine growth-restricted children: a systematic review. J Perinatol 39, 1021–1030 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-019-0369-y

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