title: Early developmental outcomes predicted by gestational age from 35 to 41weeks.
abstract: Recent studies have indicated that children born only a few weeks earlier than their due date experience more health and cognitive problems than previously realized.
  
  
  
  Our study investigated whether gestational age (GA) at birth (35-41weeks) predicted developmental outcomes at 8, 12, 20, or 24months of age.
  
  
  
  Archival records of developmental screening scores collected between 2006 and 2012 were analyzed using negative binomial and logistic regressions models.
  
  
  
  Eight-month (N=3319), 12-month (N=2303), 20-month (N=1461) and 24-month (N=1222) old children were assessed in a county-wide developmental screening program.
  
  
  
  Ages and Stage Questionnaires (ASQs) scores.
  
  
  
  After controlling for demographic covariates, from 35weeks of gestation on, each additional week of gestation (through 41) significantly reduced the overall risk for developmental delay at 8,12, 20 and 24-months of age. Gestational age also uniquely predicted specific risk for delay in the domains of communication, personal-social, fine-motor, and problem solving at various time-points during the first two years of life.
  
  
  
  With each additional week of gestation past 35weeks there was a graded decrease in the overall risk of developmental delay as well as in specific domains such as communication across the first two years of life. This evidence for the "dose-response" effect of GA on later development suggests that close monitoring of developmental outcomes for children born before 40weeks is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI 49401, USA. Electronic address: duekerg@gvsu.edu.
authors.forename: Gwenden
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dueker
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI 49401, USA. Electronic address: chenj@gvsu.edu.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Family Futures, 678 Front Ave., NW, #210, Grand Rapids, MI 49504, USA. Electronic address: ccowling@familyfutures.net.
authors.forename: Candace
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cowling
authors.affiliation: Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics & Human Development, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA. Electronic address: brian.haskin@brookvillemedicine.com.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Haskin
mesh_terms: D002657:Child Development; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000254:growth & development*; D008297:Male; D065886:Neurodevelopmental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*
keywords: Ages and Stages Questionnaires; Developmental delay; Early term birth; Late preterm birth