Self-reported mental health difficulties were of limited use when screening for psychiatric diagnoses in adults born small for gestational age at term.

AIM: Being born small for gestational age (SGA) at term increases the risk of adverse health outcomes. We examined whether self-reported mental health differed between adults born SGA and non-SGA at term and could be used to screen for psychiatric diagnoses. METHODS: We used the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire to gather data from 68 participants born SGA and 88 non-SGA controls at a mean age of 26.5 years. Group differences were analysed by linear regression. We calculated the area under the curve and the sensitivity, specificity and predictive values for psychiatric diagnoses. RESULTS: The mean total difficulties score was 1.9 (95% confidence interval 0.4-3.5) points higher for participants born SGA. They also reported more internalising and emotional problems (p < 0.05). The areas under the curve were 0.82 and 0.68 in the SGA and control groups, respectively. Among participants born SGA, the 90th percentile cut-off had a sensitivity of 0.38, a specificity of 0.93 and positive and negative predictive values of 0.75 and 0.71. The 80th percentile cut-off had higher sensitivity and lower specificity. CONCLUSION: Adults born SGA reported more mental health difficulties than non-SGA controls. The low sensitivity using the 90th percentile cut-off suggests that a lower cut-off should be considered.

Physical activity and associations with health-related quality of life in adults born small for gestational age at term: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Adults born small for gestational age (SGA) have increased risk of adverse health outcomes. Physical activity (PA) is a key determinant of health and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). We aimed to investigate if being born SGA at term is associated with lower objectively measured and self-reported PA during adulthood. We also examined if objectively measured and self-reported PA were associated with HRQoL. METHODS: As part of the 32-year follow-up in the NTNU Low Birth Weight in a Lifetime Perspective study, SGA and non-SGA control participants wore two tri-axial accelerometers for seven days (37 SGA, 43 control), and completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) (42 SGA, 49 control) and the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) (55 SGA, 67 control). Group differences in objectively measured daily metabolic equivalent of task (MET) minutes spent sedentary (lying, sitting), on feet (standing, walking, running, cycling), on the move (walking, running, cycling) and running/cycling, and group differences in self-reported daily MET minutes spent walking and in moderate and vigorous PA were examined using linear regression. Associations with SF-36 were explored in a general linear model. RESULTS: Mean (SD) daily MET minutes on the move were 218 (127) in the SGA group and 227 (113) in the control group. There were no group differences in objectively measured and self-reported PA or associations with HRQoL. In the SGA group, one MET minute higher objectively measured time on the move was associated with 4.0 (95% CI: 0.6-6.5, p = 0.009) points higher SF-36 physical component summary. CONCLUSION: We found no differences in objectively measured and self-reported PA or associations with HRQoL between term-born SGA and non-SGA control participants in adulthood.

Body composition and physical fitness in adults born small for gestational age at term: a prospective cohort study.

There is lack of research on body composition and physical fitness in individuals born small for gestational age (SGA) at term entering mid-adulthood. We aimed to investigate these outcomes in adults born SGA at term. This population-based cohort study included 46 adults born SGA with birth weight < 10th percentile at term (gestational age ≥ 37 weeks) (22 women, 24 men) and 61 adults born at term with birth weight ≥ 10th percentile (35 women, 26 men) at 32 years. Body composition was examined anthropometrically and by 8-polar bioelectrical impedance analysis (Seca® mBCA 515). Fitness was measured by maximal isometric grip strength by a Jamar hand dynamometer, 40-s modified push-up test and 4-min submaximal step test. Participants born SGA were shorter than controls, but other anthropometric measures did not differ between the groups. Men born SGA had 4.8 kg lower grip strength in both dominant (95% CI 0.6 to 9.0) and non-dominant (95% CI 0.4 to 9.2) hand compared with controls. Grip strength differences were partly mediated by height. In conclusion, body composition and physical fitness were similar in adults born SGA and non-SGA at term. Our finding of reduced grip strength in men born SGA may warrant further investigation.

Health-related quality of life in young adults born small for gestational age: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Individuals born small for gestational age (SGA) have an increased risk of several adverse health outcomes, but their health-related quality of life (HRQoL) across young adulthood has yet to be studied. The main aim of this study was to investigate if being born SGA at term is associated with poor HRQoL at 32 years of age. A second aim was to explore longitudinal changes in HRQoL from age 20 to 32 years. METHODS: In the prospective NTNU Low Birth Weight in a Lifetime Perspective study, 56 participants born SGA and 68 non-SGA control participants completed the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) at age 32 years to assess HRQoL. The SF-36 was also administrated at age 20 and 28 years. Longitudinal changes in the eight SF-36 domains and the two component summaries from 20 to 32 years were analyzed by linear mixed models. In total, 82 adults born SGA and 98 controls participated at least once and were included in the longitudinal analyses. RESULTS: At age 32 years the participants born SGA scored 14.8 (95% CI 4.7 to 25.3) points lower in the SF-36 role-physical domain compared with the control group, i.e. more problems with work or other daily activities due to physical health problems. The longitudinal analyses showed significant group differences from 20 to 32 years in the role-emotional domain, and in the physical and mental component summaries. Among participants born SGA, the physical component summary decreased from age 20 to 28 years (-3.2, 95% CI -5.0 to -1.8), while the mental component summary (6.0, 95% CI 2.9 to 8.6) and role-emotional domain score (19.3, 95% CI 9.9 to 30.3) increased, but there were no further changes from 28 to 32 years. There were no longitudinal changes in the control group from 20 to 32 years. CONCLUSION: Overall, individuals born SGA at term reported similar HRQoL at age 32 years compared with non-SGA controls. Self-perceived mental health improved during young adulthood among individuals born SGA, while self-perceived physical health deteriorated. The latter findings warrant further investigation.