Emotional and behavioural outcomes at 8 years of age in preterm-born children: A longitudinal study

Aim: To evaluate the predictive value of perinatal factors and neurodevelopmental evaluation in the emotional and behavioural outcomes in preterm-born children at 7-9 years of age.

Methods: We evaluated the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) extended score at 8.2 ± 0.2 years, among 70 preterm-born children (32 early and 38 moderately preterms) with a previous Bayley-III neurodevelopmental evaluation.

Results: Early compared to moderately preterms had a higher total SDQ (12 compared to 8, p = 0.031), and emotional symptoms score (4 compared to 3, p = 0.022); no significant differences were recorded in abnormal/borderline-scored children between the two groups. The total SDQ and emotional symptoms scores were significantly correlated with gestational age, birth weight, perinatal factors and the cognitive and motor Bayley-III scores. Early prematurity was associated with the total SDQ score (beta 2.09, 95% CI 1.32, 3.87), and the score of emotional symptoms (beta 1.70, 95% CI 1.38, 2.19), after adjusting for sex, neonatal sepsis and the existence of an older sibling.

Conclusion: Prematurity, birth weight, perinatal factors and the cognitive and motor Bayley-III scores were significantly associated with the total SDQ and the emotional symptoms score, in preterm-born children.