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School outcomes of late preterm infants: special needs and challenges for infants born at 32 to 36 weeks gestation.

CPQCC Publication
TitleSchool outcomes of late preterm infants: special needs and challenges for infants born at 32 to 36 weeks gestation.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2008
AuthorsChyi LJ, Lee HC, Hintz SR, Gould JB, Sutcliffe TL
JournalJ Pediatr
Volume153
Issue1
Pagination25-31
Date Published2008 Jul
ISSN1097-6833
KeywordsChild, Child Development, Child, Preschool, Cognition, Education, Special, Educational Status, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Infant, Premature, Male, Outcome Assessment (Health Care), Reading, Schools
Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Because limited long-term outcome data exist for infants born at 32 to 36 weeks gestation, we compared school outcomes between 32- to 33-week moderate preterm (MP), 34-36 week late preterm (LP) and full-term (FT) infants.

STUDY DESIGN: A total of 970 preterm infants and 13 671 FT control subjects were identified from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Kindergarten Cohort. Test scores, teacher evaluations, and special education enrollment from kindergarten (K) to grade 5 were compared.

RESULTS: LP infants had lower reading scores than FT infants in K to first grade (P < .05). Adjusted risk for poor reading and math scores remained elevated in first grade (P < .05). Teacher evaluations of math skills from K to first grade and reading skills from K to fifth grade were worse for LP infants (P < .05). Adjusted odds for below average skills remained higher for math in K and for reading at all grades (P < .05). Special education participation was higher for LP infants at early grades (odds ratio, 1.4-2.1). MP infants had lower test and teacher evaluation scores than FT infants and twice the risk for special education at all grade levels.

CONCLUSIONS: Persistent teacher concerns through grade 5 and greater special education needs among MP and LP infants suggest a need to start follow-up, anticipatory guidance, and interventions for infants born at 32 to 36 weeks gestation.

DOI10.1016/j.jpeds.2008.01.027
Alternate JournalJ. Pediatr.
PubMed ID18571530