title: Executive functioning deficits in young adult survivors of bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess long-term impairments of executive functioning in adult survivors of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were assessed on measures of executive functioning, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and social functioning. Survivors of BPD (n = 63; 34 males; mean age 24.2 years) were compared with groups comprising preterm (without BPD) (<1500 g; n = 45) and full-term controls (n = 63). Analysis of variance was used to explore differences among groups for outcome measures. Multiple regression analyzes were performed to identify factors predictive of long-term outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significantly more BPD adults, compared with preterm and term controls, showed deficits in executive functioning relating to problem solving (OR: 5.1, CI: 1.4-19.3), awareness of behavior (OR: 12.7, CI: 1.5-106.4) and organization of their environment (OR: 13.0, CI: 1.6-107.1). Birth weight, HRQoL and social functioning were predictive of deficits in executive functioning.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study represents the largest sample of survivors into adulthood of BPD and is the first to show that deficits in executive functioning persist. Children with BPD should be assessed to identify cognitive impairments and allow early intervention aimed at ameliorating their effects. Implications for Rehabilitation Adults born preterm with very-low birth weight, and particularly those who develop BPD, are at increased risk of exhibiting defects in executive functioning. Clinicians and educators should be made aware of the impact that BPD can have on the long-term development of executive functions. Children and young adults identified as having BPD should be periodically monitored to identify the need for possible intervention.
authors.affiliation: a Centre for Public Health Institute of Clinical Sciences, Queens University Belfast & Royal Victoria Hospital , Belfast , UK .
authors.forename: Aisling
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gough
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Linden
authors.forename: Dale
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Spence
authors.forename: Henry L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Halliday
authors.forename: Christopher C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.forename: Lorcan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: McGarvey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging; D001997:Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003072:Cognition Disorders; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D009660:Northern Ireland; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012917:Social Adjustment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D047929:Term Birth; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia; executive functioning; health-related quality of life; social functioning; very-low birth weight