470 Parental assessment on neurodevelopmental outcomes in children born late preterm at 2, 3, 5 and 8 years old

• Published in: Archives of disease in childhood 2021-10, Vol.106 (Suppl 2), p.A197-A198
• Main Authors: Raimundo, Diana Simão, Carreira, Joana Mendão, Vasco, João, Viveiros, Eulália
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abstracts; Age; Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; Behavior Problems; Children; Cognitive ability; Emotional behavior; Grade 2; Hearing loss; Intelligence; Language; Neurodevelopment; Parental behavior; Pediatrics; Premature birth; Retention; Speech; Statistical analysis
• ISSN: 0003-9888; 1468-2044
• DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2021-europaediatrics.470

In recent years, there has been growing evidence that children born late preterm (LPT) (34 0⁄7 – 36 6⁄7 weeks’ gestation) are at higher risk for multiple morbidities during childhood and even adulthood. We aimed to evaluate late neurodevelopment in children born LPT at ages of 2, 3, 5 and 8 years old (y.o).All LPT born in 2012, 2015, 2017 and 2018 in a Portuguese island region were selected from clinical records and a questionnaire was applied to their parents. Descriptive statistics analysis was performed.Response rate was 67,0% (total= 207; 2 y.o. n=63; 3 y.o. n=62; 5 y.o. n=53; 8 y.o n=29). Within LPT group, none of the evaluated outcomes recorded statistically significant differences between gestational ages. Visual and hearing impairment increased with age, until 55,2% and 26,0%, respectively, at 8y.o; this suggests that these potential problems may go unnoticed in the first years of life, becoming evident at school age. About 1/5 of the LPT presented difficulties in language/speech by 2 and 3 y.o., and it remained high at 5 years (11,3%), but with a lower rate at 8 years (3,4%). Warning signs for emotional/behavioral disturbance were reported in about 10% of 5 and 8 y.o., using the parameters recommended by the National Program for Child and Youth Health. Diagnosed attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was found in 6,9% of children aged 8, coincident with the prevalence estimated worldwide. However, 17,2% of all 8 y.o. LPT showed warning signs on Conners’ Parent Rating Scale, suggesting this clinical entity may be underdiagnosed or that parental reports may indicate behavior dysfunctionality despite criteria for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are not met. School learning difficulties with grade retention were reported in 17,2% of the 8 y.o. LPT children, much higher than the national mean retention rate in the 2nd grade (5,8%). These results are in agreement with recent studies that report higher borderline intellectual functioning and lower IQ scores in school-aged LPT.Parental assessment on LPT showed increasing visual and hearing impairment until school-age, difficulties in language/speech until 5y.o., a high rate of grade retention, increased signs of childhood behavior problems, but not higher rates of ADHD. LPT’s parents should be informed about the possible late complications. Special attention and follow-up must be paid to LPT from the beginning for timely detection and intervention in capacities that can impair neu