Objectives: To investigate the long-term impact of early-term birth (37-38 weeks' gestation) relative to full-term birth (≥39 weeks' gestation) on neurodevelopmental and psychiatric outcomes in adolescents with single-ventricle congenital heart disease (CHD).
Study design: This cross-sectional cohort study analyzed retrospective medical records from full term adolescents with single-ventricle CHD who underwent the Fontan procedure. Participants underwent neurodevelopmental and psychiatric evaluations, as well as structural brain magnetic resonance imaging. Early-term born adolescents were compared with full-term born adolescents using regression models with adjustments for family social status, birth weight, and genetic abnormality status. Medical and demographic risk factors were examined as well.
Results: Compared with the full-term group (n = 100), adolescents born early term (n = 33) scored significantly worse on daily-life executive functions, as measured by the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function parent-report (mean scores: early term, 62.0 ± 10.9; full-term, 55.6 ± 12.2; P = .009) and self-report (P = .02) composites. Adolescents born early term were more likely than those born full term to have a lifetime attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis (early term, 55%; full term, 26%; P = .001). The early-term group also displayed greater psychiatric symptom severity, as indicated by the clinician-reported Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (mean score: early term, 16.1 ± 8.6; full-term, 12.5 ± 8.2; P = .007).
Conclusion: Early-term birth is associated with greater prevalence of executive dysfunction, ADHD diagnosis, and psychiatric problems in adolescents with single-ventricle CHD. Early-term birth should be included as a potential risk factor in the algorithm for closer developmental surveillance in CHD.
Keywords: ADHD; CHD neurodevelopment; Fontan procedure; adolescence; gestational age.
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