Intellectual performance in young adult males born small for gestational age.
Children born small for gestational age (SGA) have increased risk of neurological dysfunction. The aim of this study was to analyze intellectual performance in early adult age in children born SGA, and especially the effect of catch up growth in height.


METHODS
Data on gestational age and birth size were taken from the Swedish Birth Register and data on adult height and intellectual performance from the Swedish Conscript Register.


RESULTS
Low birth weight, birth length and head circumference increased the risk of subnormal intellectual and psychological performance in males born SGA. Very low gestational age also increased the risk. However, the most important predictor was the absence of catch up growth to a height above -2 SDS in individuals born SGA.
Lundgren
Maria
M
Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Akademiska Barnsjukhuset, Uppsala SE-751-85, Sweden.
Cnattingius
Sven
S
Jonsson
Björn
B
Tuvemo
Torsten
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D007360:Intelligence; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008297:Male