title: Maternal obesity and increased risk for autism and developmental delay among very preterm infants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Thirty-five percent of women of child-bearing age are obese, and there is evidence that maternal obesity may increase the risk for adverse neurodevelopmental outcome. However, research regarding obesity and neurodevelopment among children born preterm is limited. This study aimed to determine associations between maternal obesity and neurodevelopment in very preterm children at age 2 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Maternal/infant dyads (n=62) born ⩽30 weeks gestation were enrolled in a prospective cohort study at a level-III neonatal intensive care unit. Mothers were classified as obese or non-obese based on pre-pregnancy body mass index. Infants underwent magnetic resonance imaging at term equivalent and developmental testing at age 2. Maternal obesity was investigated for associations with neurodevelopment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Maternal obesity was associated with positive screen for autism (odds ratio=9.88, P=0.002) and lower composite language scores (β=-9.36, (confidence interval=-15.11, -3.61), P=0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maternal obesity was associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcome at age 2 in this cohort of very preterm children. This study requires replication, but may support targeted surveillance of infants born to women with maternal obesity.
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA [2] Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA.
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA [2] Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA [3] Department of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA.
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Inder
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA [2] Department of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Neil
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA [2] Program in Occupational Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA.
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Pineda
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA [2] Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA.
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Rogers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000209:etiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007804:Language Development; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015430:Weight Gain