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ADHD and developmental speech/language disorders in late preterm, early term and term infants

Journal of Perinatology volume 35, pages 660–664 (2015)Cite this article

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Abstract

Objective:

We sought to compare the long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes of late preterm, early term and term infants while controlling for a wide range of maternal complications and comorbidities.

Study design:

Data for the study was obtained from the South Carolina Medicaid claims and vital records databases from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2003. We included infants weighing between 1500 and 4500 g, born between 34 0/7 and 41 6/7 weeks, and with no congenital anomalies. Outcome measures were based on the presence of ICD-9-CM codes for attention deficit hyperactivity disorders and developmental speech or language disorders.

Result:

A total of 3270 late preterm (LPIs), 11 527 early term (ETIs) and 24 005 term infants met the eligibility criteria. Rates for all outcome variables were statistically significant and elevated for LPI, but adjusted hazard ratios (AHRs) were only significant for the risk of developmental speech and/or language delay (LPI: AHR 1.36 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.23 to 1.50; ETI: AHR 1.27 95% CI 1.17 to 1.37).

Conclusion:

Late preterm and early term deliveries have adverse long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes, and these outcomes should be considered when determining the timing of delivery.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Laura Rakes for her assistance in proofreading and editing the manuscript. Funding for this study was provided in part by the Arkansas Children’s Hospital Research Institute and through the Translational Research Institute of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences awards UL1TR000039 and KL2TR000063.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA

    N Z Rabie, T M Bird, E F Magann & S S McKelvey

  2. Center for Distance Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA

    T M Bird & R W Hall

  3. Department of Neonatology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA

    R W Hall

Authors
  1. N Z Rabie
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  2. T M Bird
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to E F Magann.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Supplementary Information accompanies the paper on the Journal of Perinatology website

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Rabie, N., Bird, T., Magann, E. et al. ADHD and developmental speech/language disorders in late preterm, early term and term infants. J Perinatol 35, 660–664 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2015.28

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