RT Journal
A1 Gurka MJ, LoCasale-Crouch J, Blackman JA
T1 LOng-term cognition, achievement, socioemotional, and behavioral development of healthy late-preterm infants
JF Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
JO Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
YR 2010
FD June 1
VO 164
IS 6
SP 525
OP 532
DO 10.1001/archpediatrics.2010.83
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archpediatrics.2010.83
AB Objective 
    To compare healthy late-preterm infants with their full-term counterparts from age 4 through 15 years for numerous standard cognitive, achievement, socioemotional, and behavioral outcomes.Design 
    Prospective cohort study.Setting 
    National Institute of Child Health and Development Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development, 1991-2007.Participants 
    A total of 1298 children (53 born at 34-36 weeks' gestational age), and their families, observed from birth through age 15 years. None of the infants had major health problems before or immediately following birth, and all the infants were discharged from the hospital within 7 days.Main Exposure 
    Preterm status: children born late preterm (34-36 weeks) vs those born full term (37-41 weeks).Main Outcome Measures 
    Eleven standard outcomes measuring cognition, achievement, social skills, and behavioral/emotional problems using the Woodcock-Johnson Psycho-Educational Battery–Revised and the Child Behavior Checklist, administered repeatedly through age 15 years.Results 
    No consistent significant differences were found between late-preterm and full-term children for these standard measures from ages 4 to 15 years. Through age 15 years, the mean difference of most of these outcomes hovered around 0, indicating, along with small confidence intervals around these differences, that it is unlikely that healthy late-preterm infants are at any meaningful disadvantage regarding these measures.Conclusion 
    Late-preterm infants born otherwise healthy seem to have no real burdens regarding cognition, achievement, behavior, and socioemotional development throughout childhood.