Prenatal cocaine exposure and school-age intelligence.
Assessments of the possible consequences of prenatal exposure to cocaine have been limited by lack of control for socio-demographic confounders and lack of follow-up into the school years. We evaluated intelligence at ages 6-9 years in 88 children from a cohort of 280 born between September 1, 1985 and August 31, 1986 and identified at birth as cocaine-exposed, and in a group of unexposed (n = 96) births of comparable gender and birthweight. IQ scores did not differ between children with and without prenatal exposure to cocaine (mean 82.9 vs. 82.4, difference = 0.5 points, 95% CI-3.1, 4.1); results were unchanged with adjustment for child height, head circumference and prior residence in a shelter or on the street, and for caregiver IQ and home environment (mean difference = 2.2 points, 95% CI-1.5, 5.8).
Wasserman
G A
GA
Department of Child Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
Kline
J K
JK
Bateman
D A
DA
Chiriboga
C
C
Lumey
L H
LH
Friedlander
H
H
Melton
L
L
Heagarty
M C
MC
D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D003042:Cocaine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000652:urine; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D011203:Poverty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012931:Social Environment; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014504:Urban Health; D014888:Wechsler Scales
D003042:Cocaine