Large for gestational age and long-term cognitive function.

Abstract

As we have previously published, small-for-gestational-age (<3% birthweight [BW]) newborns exhibit catch-up cognitive functioning by age 2 years. Our objective was to compare cognitive functioning in children born with ≥90% vs 5-89% BW for gestational age (WGA) between 9 months and kindergarten. Nonanomalous singletons from Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort with BW ≥90% vs 5-89% were compared. Cognitive and academic functioning was measured at 4 time points: 9 months, and 2, 3.5, and 5.5 years. Associations between WGA and cognitive functioning at each time point was examined using confounder-adjusted general linear model-based methods. Of 2930 cases, 271 (9.2%) were ≥90% WGA. In terms of cognitive performance, children ≥90% WGA were not statistically different (P = .068) from normal WGA at any time point, nor did they change at different rates across early childhood. There is no difference in cognitive function in children with BW 5-89% vs ≥90% for GA.