Neurodevelopmental outcomes at 18 months of children diagnosed with CHD compared to children born very preterm

Abstract

Abstract Children with CHD or born very preterm are at risk for brain dysmaturation and poor neurodevelopmental outcomes. Yet, studies have primarily investigated neurodevelopmental outcomes of these groups separately. Objective: To compare neurodevelopmental outcomes and parent behaviour ratings of children born term with CHD to children born very preterm. Methods: A clinical research sample of 181 children (CHD [n = 81]; very preterm [≤32 weeks; n = 100]) was assessed at 18 months. Results: Children with CHD and born very preterm did not differ on Bayley-III cognitive, language, or motor composite scores, or on expressive or receptive language, or on fine motor scaled scores. Children with CHD had lower ross motor scaled scores compared to children born very preterm (p = 0.047). More children with CHD had impaired scores (<70 SS) on language composite (17%), expressive language (16%), and gross motor (14%) indices compared to children born very preterm (6%; 7%; 3%; ps < 0.05). No group differences were found on behaviours rated by parents on the Child Behaviour Checklist (1.5–5 years) or the proportion of children with scores above the clinical cutoff. English as a first language was associated with higher cognitive (p = 0.004) and language composite scores (p < 0.001). Lower median household income and English as a second language were associated with higher total behaviour problems (ps < 0.05). Conclusions: Children with CHD were more likely to display language and motor impairment compared to children born very preterm at 18 months. Outcomes were associated with language spoken in the home and household income.