title: Subtle adverse effects of late preterm birth: a cautionary note.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Late preterm birth increases risk of perinatal health complications that typically resolve in the short term. Thus, early elective delivery is thought to have no long-term effects. Whether there is increased risk of adverse psychological outcomes that emerge in early childhood remains uncertain.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors compared intellectual, neuropsychological, and behavioral outcomes in 278 late preterm (35-36 weeks) and 192 term (37-41 weeks) participants at age 3 years recruited from a single center, using analysis of variance, analysis of covariance, and regression analyses. Late-preterm participants were further subgrouped by admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU; n = 202) or a well-baby unit (n = 76). Analyses included 132 additional participants born at 34 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Late preterm participants had lower general conceptual ability (GCA; i.e., IQ); lower verbal, nonverbal, spatial, visuomotor, and dexterity scores; and poorer adaptability than term participants (p < .01; -0.271 to -0.511 SDs). Gestational age was the most important predictor of these subtle outcomes, not neonatal medical variables; no differences were found between NICU admitted and nonadmitted late-preterm groups. A 1-week increase in gestational age resulted in a 1.941 increase in GCA (d = 0.127).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gestation is a developmental continuum best not interrupted during its natural course. Our data showing subtle but appreciable effects have important implications for obstetric practice and parental decision making regarding early elective delivery in the absence of maternal or fetal adverse indications.
authors.affiliation: Fairfax Neonatal Associates.
authors.forename: Ida Sue
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Baron
authors.affiliation: Fairfax Neonatal Associates.
authors.forename: Brandi A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.affiliation: Fairfax Neonatal Associates.
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.affiliation: Inova Fairfax Hospital.
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khoury
authors.affiliation: Inova Children's Hospital.
authors.forename: Irina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Remsburg
authors.affiliation: Inova Fairfax Hospital.
authors.forename: Jean W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Thermolice
authors.affiliation: Fairfax Neonatal Associates.
authors.forename: Fern R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Litman
authors.affiliation: Fairfax Neonatal Associates.
authors.forename: Margot D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Ahronovich
mesh_terms: D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012307:Risk Factors