Factors affecting the cognitive profile of 11-year-old children born very preterm

BACKGROUND: Preterm birth is a risk for cognitive development. This study assessed the cognitive profile of children born very preterm at the age of 11 years as well as the associated risk factors. METHODS: A total of 128 children born very preterm were included. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed at term age. Cognitive development was assessed using the full-scale intelligence quotient (IQ) and four domains of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, fourth edition (WISC-IV), Finnish translation. The results were compared with test norms. RESULTS: Most study children performed at average (51%) or low average (21%) levels in the full-scale IQ assessment. The correlation between 5- and 11-year full-scale IQ was 0.73 (P<0.001). Compared with the normative data, children born very preterm performed poorer in all domains of the cognitive profile. The only significant risk factor for poor general cognition was major brain pathology. When considering all four domains of WISC-IV, low paternal education, male gender, and low birth weight z score were also found to be significant risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Less than one-third of the children born very preterm performed below the low average cognitive level at 11 years of age. Specific neonatal and sociodemographic risk factors were identified as affecting the cognitive profile.