3 research outputs found
Correcting for prematurity affects developmental test scores in infants born late and moderately preterm. Early Human Development
Correcting for prematurity affects developmental test scores in infants born late and moderately preterm. Early Human Developmen
Infants born late/moderately preterm are at increased risk for a positive autism screen at 2Ā years of age.
Objectives To assess the prevalence of positive screens using the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers
(M-CHAT) questionnaire and follow-up interview in late and moderately preterm (LMPT; 32-36 weeks) infants
and term-born controls.
Study design Population-based prospective cohort study of 1130 LMPT and 1255 term-born infants. Parents
completed the M-CHAT questionnaire at 2-years corrected age. Parents of infants with positive questionnaire
screens were followed up with a telephone interview to clarify failed items. The M-CHAT questionnaire was rescored,
and infants were classified as true or false positives. Neurosensory, cognitive, and behavioral outcomes
were assessed using parent report.
Results Parents of 634 (57%) LMPT and 761 (62%) term-born infants completed the M-CHAT questionnaire.
LMPT infants had significantly higher risk of a positive questionnaire screen compared with controls (14.5% vs
9.2%; relative risk [RR] 1.58; 95% CI 1.18, 2.11). After follow-up, significantly more LMPT infants than controls
had a true positive screen (2.4% vs 0.5%; RR 4.52; 1.51, 13.56). This remained significant after excluding infants
with neurosensory impairments (2.0% vs 0.5%; RR 3.67; 1.19, 11.3).
Conclusions LMPT infants are at significantly increased risk for positive autistic screen. An M-CHAT follow-up
interview is essential as screening for autism spectrum disorders is especially confounded in preterm populations.
Infants with false positive screens are at risk for cognitive and behavioral problems. (J Pediatr 2015;166:269-75)