Developmental data in preschool children born after prolonged pregnancy.

AIM: To evaluate children born post-term (gestational age>or=42 weeks) with respect to developmental data obtained at the ages of 4 and 5.5 y.

METHODS

The study population included all children (n=354) born in 1991 at Huddinge University Hospital with a gestational age of >or=42 wk. The births were identified and perinatal data were collected through the Swedish National Birth Registry. Developmental assessments from the child health centres were analysed. Children born at term, but before a gestational age of 42 wk, served as controls. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyse the data.

RESULTS

Children born post-term had more developmental deviations than the controls (estimated odds ratio 2.20; 95% CI: 1.29-3.85). Boys had more deviations than girls (estimated odds ratio 1.92; 95% CI: 1.11-3.45).

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that there might be an association between post-term birth and developmental deviations.