238 IQ and Intrauterine Growth Restriction in young Adults Born Small-for-Gestational-Age at Term

Background and aims How cognitive function is affected by being born small for gestational age (SGA) is not clear. This may be related to different definitions of SGA and the lack of discrimination between those born with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and those who are constitutionally smal...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Archives of disease in childhood 2012-10, Vol.97 (Suppl 2), p.A69-A69
Main Authors: Oestgaard, HF, Løhaugen, GCC, Brubakk, AM, Martinussen, M, Skranes, J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Birth weight
Body Weight
Cognitive ability
Control Groups
Followup Studies
Intelligence Quotient
Pregnancy
Young adults
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Summary:Background and aims How cognitive function is affected by being born small for gestational age (SGA) is not clear. This may be related to different definitions of SGA and the lack of discrimination between those born with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and those who are constitutionally small. Our aim was to study the effect of being born SGA with IUGR on later cognitive functioning. Methods Population-based follow-up study at age 19 of 59 term-born SGA (birth weight< 10th centile, mean: 2915g) and 81 controls (birth weight>10th centile, mean: 3707g). WAIS III was used to assess IQ. Foetal weight-deviation was calculated based on repeated ultrasound measurements of biparietal and mid-abdominal diameter at week 25, 33 and 37 of gestation for 29 SGA subjects and 75 controls. Weight-deviations were recorded as positive and negative percentages; zero denoted no deviation from individual expected growth. Mean and standard deviation (sd) for estimated foetal growth in the control group was used to dichotomize the SGA group into normal growth and IUGR (growth deviation of more than -2sd from control mean). Results The total SGA group had significantly lower IQ scores than the control group (p=0.001). In the subgroup with ultrasound measurements, six SGA subjects (21%) were defined as IUGR. In this subgroup, only these six had significantly lower IQ than controls (IQ 87 vs 101, p=0.003) whereas those with normal growth pattern did not differ from controls. Conclusions Young adults born SGA had reduced cognitive outcome. This decrease may be confined to SGA young adults with IUGR.
ISSN:0003-9888
1468-2044
DOI:10.1136/archdischild-2012-302724.0238