Perinatal factors influence on the neurocognitive development of children born small for gestational age (SGA) during the first 2 years of life.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Children born small for gestational age (SGA) show higher risk of neurodevelopmental and cognitive abnormalities. The objective of this study is to determine in children born SGA the neurodevelopment during the first 2 years of life and to establish the influence of anthropometric data, gestational age, multiple gestation and perinatal factors. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Observational, prospective, descriptive and analytical study of the neurocognitive assessment performed, with Brunet-Lézine test, on SGA children (n = 91) from 3 to 24 months of age, comparing with own controls. RESULTS: Ninety-one SGA children, 47% girls, 83.5% single pregnancies; mean gestational age 37.7 weeks (standard deviation (SD) 2.1). Weight at birth 2053 g (SD 433.1), length 43.9 cm (SD 2.6) and head circumference 31.7 cm (SD 1.7). The SGA population shows significantly lower neurodevelopment than the control population, with a tendency to improve during the first 2 years of life. There are no differences by sex. SGA children born to multiple gestations have lower neurodevelopment only during the first year of life. There is a direct and positive correlation between weight, length and head circumference with neurocognitive development at 6, 9, 12 and 18 months. Gestational age correlated with better neurodevelopment at 3 and 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Children born SGA present lower neurodevelopment than the control population. A greater impact on weight, length, and head circumference at birth is correlated with poorer neurocognitive development. Multiparity does not show significant influence on neurodevelopment evolution.

Perinatal factors influence on the neurocognitive development of children born small for gestational age (SGA) during the first 2 years of life. / Influencia de factores perinatales en el desarrollo neurocognitivo de niños nacidos pequeños para la edad gestacional durante los primeros 2 años de vida.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Children born small for gestational age (SGA) show higher risk of neurodevelopmental and cognitive abnormalities. The objective of this study is to determine in children born SGA the neurodevelopment during the first 2 years of life and to establish the influence of anthropometric data, gestational age, multiple gestation and perinatal factors. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Observational, prospective, descriptive and analytical study of the neurocognitive assessment performed, with Brunet-Lézine test, on SGA children (n=91) from 3 to 24 months of age, comparing with own controls. RESULTS: Ninety-one SGA children, 47% girls, 83.5% single pregnancies; mean gestational age 37.7 weeks (standard deviation [SD] 2.1). Weight at birth 2,053g (SD 433.1), length 43.9cm (SD 2.6) and head circumference 31.7cm (SD 1.7). The SGA population shows significantly lower neurodevelopment than the control population, with a tendency to improve during the first 2 years of life. There are no differences by sex. SGA children born to multiple gestations have lower neurodevelopment only during the first year of life. There is a direct and positive correlation between weight, length and head circumference with neurocognitive development at 6, 9, 12 and 18 months. Gestational age correlated with better neurodevelopment at 3 and 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Children born SGA present lower neurodevelopment than the control population. A greater impact on weight, length, and head circumference at birth is correlated with poorer neurocognitive development. Multiparity does not show significant influence on neurodevelopment evolution.

[Study of personality and anxiety in children and adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease]. / Estudio de personalidad y ansiedad en niños y adolescentes con enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal.

OBJECTIVE: to analyze the presence of common personality traits and anxiety states in children and adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). PATIENTS AND METHOD: Longitudinal, prospecti ve, and analytical study by applying the questionnaires Children's Personality Questionnaire, High School Personality Questionnaire, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children, and State-Trait Anxie ty Inventory for patients with IBD aged between 9 and 18 years seen at reference IBD units in Ara gon, Spain. The participants excluded were those with active disease, defined as a score > 10 on the Pediatric Crohn's Disease Activity Index (PCDAI Score) or > 10 on the Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis Activity Index (PUCAI Score). RESULTS: Twenty-six patients participated (73% male). 61.5% pre sented Crohn's disease (CD) and 38.5% ulcerative colitis (UC). No patient presented active disease. The personality profile as a group was characterized by being open, emotionally stable, calm, sober, sensible, enterprising, impressionable, dependent, serene, perfectionist, and relaxed. 50% of the CD patients were enterprising versus no UC patients (p < 0.05). There were no statistically significant di fferences when comparing the remaining personality factors based on IBD type, age, or sex. Patients with CD tended to be calmer (p = 0.0511) and patients with UC more introverted (p = 0.0549). The sample presented a state anxiety level (A/E) -1.1 ± 0.8 SD compared with the population average. The level of anxiety as a feature (A/R) was -0.6 ± 1 SD. Males had significantly lower levels than females in the case of A/E (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of common personality traits in the pediatric population with IBD stands out but there was no greater anxiety than in the reference population.