Developmental data in preschool children born after prolonged pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate children born post-term (gestational age>or=42 weeks) with respect to developmental data obtained at the ages of 4 and 5.5 y.


METHODS
The study population included all children (n=354) born in 1991 at Huddinge University Hospital with a gestational age of >or=42 wk. The births were identified and perinatal data were collected through the Swedish National Birth Registry. Developmental assessments from the child health centres were analysed. Children born at term, but before a gestational age of 42 wk, served as controls. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyse the data.


RESULTS
Children born post-term had more developmental deviations than the controls (estimated odds ratio 2.20; 95% CI: 1.29-3.85). Boys had more deviations than girls (estimated odds ratio 1.92; 95% CI: 1.11-3.45).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that there might be an association between post-term birth and developmental deviations.
Lindström
Katarina
K
Department of Neuropaediatrics, Children's Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge Stockholm, Sweden. katarina.lindstrom@klinvet.ki.se
Fernell
Elisabeth
E
Westgren
Magnus
M
D001034:Apgar Score; D001724:Birth Weight; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011273:Pregnancy, Prolonged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013548:Sweden