Examining the relationship between birth weight and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder diagnosis

Meng Ni; Lijuan Li; Wei Li; Qianqian Zhang; Jiuru Zhao; Qianwen Shen; Dongting Yao; Tao Wang; Baihe Li; Xiya Ding; Sudong Qi; Xiaoyi Huang; Zhiwei Liu

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1074783

Examining the relationship between birth weight and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder diagnosis

Front Psychiatry. 2023 May 24:14:1074783. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1074783. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Meng Ni^#^{1

2

3}, Lijuan Li^#^{1

2

3}, Wei Li^{1

2

3}, Qianqian Zhang^{1

2

3}, Jiuru Zhao^{1

2

3}, Qianwen Shen^{1

2

3}, Dongting Yao^{1

2

3}, Tao Wang^{1

2

3}, Baihe Li^{1

2

3}, Xiya Ding^{1

2

3}, Sudong Qi^{1

2

3}, Xiaoyi Huang^{1

2

3}, Zhiwei Liu^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
² International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital of China Welfare, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
³ Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Disease, Shanghai, China.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Background: Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that is prevalent in children worldwide. We evaluated the potential relationship between birth weight and ADHD using newly released data from the National Survey of Children's Health 2019-2020.

Methods: This population-based survey study used parent recollection data that were collected and submitted by 50 states and the District of Columbia to the National Survey of Children's Health database from the National Survey of Children's Health database. Those aged < 3 years and without birth weight or ADHD records were excluded. Children were stratified according to ADHD diagnosis and birth weight: very low birth weight (VLBW, < 1,500 g), low birth weight (LBW, 1,500-2,500 g), and normal birth weight (NBW, ≥ 2,500 g). Multivariable logistic regression was applied to examine the causal association between birth weight and ADHD while controlling for child and household characteristics.

Results: The final sample consisted of 60,358 children, of whom 6,314 (9.0%) were reported to have an ADHD diagnosis. The prevalence of ADHD was 8.7% in NBW children, 11.5% in LBW, and 14.4% in VLBW. Compared with NBW children, LBW children [adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 1.32 (95% CI, 1.03-1.68)], and VLBW children [aOR, 1.51 (95% CI, 1.06-2.15)] had a significantly higher risk of ADHD after adjusting all variables. These associations persisted in the male subgroups.

Conclusion and relevance: This study found that LBW and VLBW children were at a higher risk of ADHD.

Keywords: ADHD; NSCH; adverse childhood experiences; birth weight; family resilience.

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China Grants (81974232 and 82271742), the Clinical Research Plan of SHDC (SHDC2020CR6027 and SHDC22022303), the Program of Shanghai Academic Research Leader (21XD1403700), the Interdisciplinary Program of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (YZ2021ZD29), and the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Major Project (20Z11900602).