Emotional and behavioural outcomes at 8 years of age in preterm‐born children: A longitudinal study

Abstract

AbstractAimTo evaluate the predictive value of perinatal factors and neurodevelopmental evaluation in the emotional and behavioural outcomes in preterm‐born children at 7–9 years of age.MethodsWe evaluated the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) extended score at 8.2 ± 0.2 years, among 70 preterm‐born children (32 early and 38 moderately preterms) with a previous Bayley‐III neurodevelopmental evaluation.ResultsEarly compared to moderately preterms had a higher total SDQ (12 compared to 8, p = 0.031), and emotional symptoms score (4 compared to 3, p = 0.022); no significant differences were recorded in abnormal/borderline‐scored children between the two groups. The total SDQ and emotional symptoms scores were significantly correlated with gestational age, birth weight, perinatal factors and the cognitive and motor Bayley‐III scores. Early prematurity was associated with the total SDQ score (beta 2.09, 95% CI 1.32, 3.87), and the score of emotional symptoms (beta 1.70, 95% CI 1.38, 2.19), after adjusting for sex, neonatal sepsis and the existence of an older sibling.ConclusionPrematurity, birth weight, perinatal factors and the cognitive and motor Bayley‐III scores were significantly associated with the total SDQ and the emotional symptoms score, in preterm‐born children.