3-077 - Predicting Developmental Outcomes in Very Preterm Children

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Integrative Statement

Prematurity is a growing global health concern: preterm birth rates are increasing leading to growing numbers of children with significant lifelong cognitive, educational and behavioural sequelae. This symposium focuses on identifying early risk factors for neurodevelopmental outcomes in children born very preterm (<32 weeks gestation) using measures available during the neonatal period. Paper 1 uses magnetic resonance imaging to identify specific neurological predictors of later academic, behavioural and motor outcomes, specifying potential metrics for early identification of long-term problems. Paper 2 investigates predictors of mathematical achievement and provides evidence that neonatal factors are associated with general difficulties in mathematics but not with imprecise numerical representations; these have both theoretical and practical significance for understanding the development of learning difficulties following VP birth. Paper 3 focuses on psychiatric outcomes following very preterm birth in relation to maternal mental health and clinical risk factors, highlighting potential targets for identification and intervention. The discussion will address theoretical and practical implications of these longitudinal data from three different countries. The identification of neonatal precursors of developmental outcomes for very preterm children has far-reaching influence, not only for our understanding of the aetiology and evolution of cognitive and socio-emotional skills, but for the development of effective interventions to optimize lifelong outcomes in this growing population of children.

Sub Unit

• Health, Growth, Injury

Chair

• Victoria Simms, Ulster University

Discussant

• H. Gerry Taylor, Case Western Reserve University

Individual Presentations

• Brain scans of very preterm infants shortly after birth can predict long-term neurodevelopmental impairments - Presenting Author: Peter J Anderson, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute; Lex W Doyle, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Women’s Hospital, University of Melbourne; Hiroko Kidokoro, Harvard University; Katherine Lee, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, University of Melbourne; Jeannie Cheong, Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia; Jeffrey Neil, Harvard University; Terrie Inder, Harvard University

• Neonatal Predictors of Mathematical Performance in Children Born Very Preterm - Presenting Author: Victoria Simms, Ulster University; Elaine Boyle, University of Leicester; Sarah Clayton, Loughborough University; Lucy Cragg, Nottingham University; Camilla K Gilmore, Loughborough University of Technology; Caroline Lockley, University of Leicester; Neil Marlow, University College London; Kathryn Payne, University of Leicester; Samantha Johnson, University of Leicester

• Childhood Psychiatric Sequelae of Very Preterm Birth: Prevalence and Risk Factors - Presenting Author: Samudragupta Bora, Harvard Med School; Stephanie Moore, University of Otago; Lianne J Woodward, Harvard Medical School