Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.3325/cmj.2017.58.332
Emotional and behavioral outcomes and quality of life in school-age children born as late preterm: retrospective cohort study
Branka Polić
; Department of Pediatrics, PICU, University Hospital Centre Split, Split, Croatia
Andreja Bubić
; Chair for Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences and HumanitiesUniversity of Split, Split, Croatia
Julije Meštrović
; Department of Pediatrics, PICU, University Hospital Centre Split, Split, Croatia
Joško Markić
; Department of Pediatrics, PICU, University Hospital Centre Split, Split, Croatia
Tanja Kovačević
; Department of Pediatrics, PICU, University Hospital Centre Split, Split, Croatia
Ivanka Antončić Furlan
; Department of Neonatology, University Hospital Center Split, Split, Croatia
Ivan Utrobičić
; Department of Plastic Surgery, University Hospital Center Split Split, Croatia
Ivana Kolčić
; Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Split, Split, Croatia
Abstract
Aim To determine the effect of late preterm birth and
treatment at the intensive care unit (ICU) on school-age
children’s emotional and behavioral problems and quality
of life (QoL).
Methods Emotional and behavioral problems and QoL
were investigated in 6-12-year-olds who were born late
preterm at the University Hospital Center Split in the period
from January 2002 to March 2008. The study included
126 late preterm children treated in ICU (LP-ICU group),
127 late preterm children not treated in ICU (LP-non-ICU
group), and 131 full-term children treated in ICU (FT-ICU
group). Emotional and behavioral difficulties were assessed
using the Child Behavior Checklist. QoL was evaluated with
the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children Measure of Function
questionnaire. The data was collected via telephone
interview with mothers during 2014.
Results Late preterm children had a nearly 5-fold risk for
internalizing problems in comparison with FT-ICU children
(OR 4.76, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.37-9.56 and OR
4.82, 95% CI 2.25-10.37 in LP-ICU and LP-non-ICU children,
respectively). They also had a greater risk for externalizing
problems (OR 3.08, 95% CI 1.44-6.61 and OR 2.68, 95% CI
1.14-6.28, respectively) and total problems (OR 6.29, 95%
CI 2.86-13.83 and OR 7.38, 95% CI 3.08-17.69, respectively)
and a considerably increased risk for lower QoL (OR 12.79,
95% CI 5.56-29.41 and OR 5.05, 95% CI 2.04-12.48, respectively).
Conclusion Children born late preterm had a greater risk
for emotional and behavioral problems and lower QoL
during childhood than their full-term born peers and they
experienced serious health problems upon birth.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
195333
URI
Publication date:
25.10.2017.
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