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Neurodevelopmental disorders and somatic diagnoses in a national cohort of children born before 24 weeks of gestation

Morsing, Eva LU ; Lundgren, Pia ; Hård, Anna-Lena ; Rakow, Alexander ; Hellström-Westas, Lena LU ; Jacobson, Lena ; Johnson, Mats ; Nilsson, Staffan ; Smith, Lois E H and Sävman, Karin , et al. (2022) In Acta Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics 111(6). p.1167-1175
Abstract

AIM: This study investigated childhood diagnoses in children born extremely preterm before 24 weeks of gestation.

METHODS: Diagnoses of neurodevelopmental disorders and selected somatic diagnoses were retrospectively retrieved from national Swedish registries for children born before 24 weeks from 2007 to 2018. Their individual medical files were also examined.

RESULTS: We studied 383 children born at a median of 23.3 (range 21.9-23.9) weeks, with a median birthweight of 565 (range 340-874) grams. Three-quarters (75%) had neurodevelopmental disorders, including speech disorders (52%), intellectual disabilities (40%), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (30%), autism spectrum disorders (24%), visual impairment (22%),... (More)

AIM: This study investigated childhood diagnoses in children born extremely preterm before 24 weeks of gestation.

METHODS: Diagnoses of neurodevelopmental disorders and selected somatic diagnoses were retrospectively retrieved from national Swedish registries for children born before 24 weeks from 2007 to 2018. Their individual medical files were also examined.

RESULTS: We studied 383 children born at a median of 23.3 (range 21.9-23.9) weeks, with a median birthweight of 565 (range 340-874) grams. Three-quarters (75%) had neurodevelopmental disorders, including speech disorders (52%), intellectual disabilities (40%), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (30%), autism spectrum disorders (24%), visual impairment (22%), cerebral palsy (17%), epilepsy (10%) and hearing impairment (5%). More boys than girls born at 23 weeks had intellectual disabilities (45% vs. 27%, p < 0.01) and visual impairment (25% vs. 14%, p < 0.01). Just over half of the cohort (55%) received habilitation care. The majority (88%) had somatic diagnoses, including asthma (63%) and failure to thrive/short stature (39%).

CONCLUSION: Most children born before 24 weeks had neurodevelopmental disorders and/or additional somatic diagnoses in childhood and were referred to habilitation services. Clinicians should be aware of the multiple health and developmental problems affecting these children. Resources are needed to identify their long-term support needs at an early stage.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Acta Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics
volume
111
issue
6
pages
1167 - 1175
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • pmid:35318709
  • scopus:85126893045
ISSN
0803-5253
DOI
10.1111/apa.16316
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
© 2022 The Authors. Acta Paediatrica published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Foundation Acta Paediatrica.
id
6cb564d4-6989-463a-b3ee-4b482b214877
date added to LUP
2022-03-25 11:54:09
date last changed
2024-03-06 03:07:50
@article{6cb564d4-6989-463a-b3ee-4b482b214877,
  abstract     = {{<p>AIM: This study investigated childhood diagnoses in children born extremely preterm before 24 weeks of gestation.</p><p>METHODS: Diagnoses of neurodevelopmental disorders and selected somatic diagnoses were retrospectively retrieved from national Swedish registries for children born before 24 weeks from 2007 to 2018. Their individual medical files were also examined.</p><p>RESULTS: We studied 383 children born at a median of 23.3 (range 21.9-23.9) weeks, with a median birthweight of 565 (range 340-874) grams. Three-quarters (75%) had neurodevelopmental disorders, including speech disorders (52%), intellectual disabilities (40%), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (30%), autism spectrum disorders (24%), visual impairment (22%), cerebral palsy (17%), epilepsy (10%) and hearing impairment (5%). More boys than girls born at 23 weeks had intellectual disabilities (45% vs. 27%, p &lt; 0.01) and visual impairment (25% vs. 14%, p &lt; 0.01). Just over half of the cohort (55%) received habilitation care. The majority (88%) had somatic diagnoses, including asthma (63%) and failure to thrive/short stature (39%).</p><p>CONCLUSION: Most children born before 24 weeks had neurodevelopmental disorders and/or additional somatic diagnoses in childhood and were referred to habilitation services. Clinicians should be aware of the multiple health and developmental problems affecting these children. Resources are needed to identify their long-term support needs at an early stage.</p>}},
  author       = {{Morsing, Eva and Lundgren, Pia and Hård, Anna-Lena and Rakow, Alexander and Hellström-Westas, Lena and Jacobson, Lena and Johnson, Mats and Nilsson, Staffan and Smith, Lois E H and Sävman, Karin and Hellström, Ann}},
  issn         = {{0803-5253}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{6}},
  pages        = {{1167--1175}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Acta Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics}},
  title        = {{Neurodevelopmental disorders and somatic diagnoses in a national cohort of children born before 24 weeks of gestation}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/apa.16316}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/apa.16316}},
  volume       = {{111}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}