Associations between physical activity and development in preschool-aged children born <30 weeks' gestation: A cohort study
Date
2024
Authors
Fitzgerald, T.L.
Cameron, K.L.
Albesher, R.A.
Mentiplay, B.F.
Mainzer, R.M.
Burnett, A.C.
Treyvaud, K.
Clark, R.A.
Anderson, P.J.
Cheong, J.L.Y.
Editors
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type:
Journal article
Citation
Archives of Disease in Childhood: Fetal and Neonatal Edition, 2024; 109(6):602-608
Statement of Responsibility
Tara L FitzGerald, Kate L Cameron, Reem A Albesher, Benjamin F Mentiplay, Rheanna M Mainzer, Alice C Burnett, Karli Treyvaud, Ross A Clark, Peter J Anderson, Jeanie LY Cheong, Lex W Doyle, Alicia J Spittle
Conference Name
Abstract
Objective: To investigate the effect of physical activity (PA) on development (motor, cognitive, social-emotional) in children 4–5 years old born <30 weeks’ gestation, and to describe subgroups of children at risk of low PA in this cohort. Design: Longitudinal cohort study. Patients: 123 children born <30 weeks were recruited at birth and assessed between 4 and 5 years’ corrected age. Main outcome measures: Development was assessed using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children, Second Edition (MABC-2), Little Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (L-DCDQ), Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (Fourth Edition; WPPSI-IV), and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). To measure PA, children wore an accelerometer and parents completed a diary for 7 days. Effects of PA on developmental outcomes, and associations between perinatal risk factors and PA, were estimated using linear regression. Results: More accelerometer-measured PA was associated with better MABC-2 aiming and catching scores (average standard score increase per hour increase in PA: 0.54, 95% CI 0.11, 0.96; p=0.013), and lower WPPSI-IV processing speed index scores (average composite score decrease per hour increase in PA: −2.36, 95% CI −4.19 to –0.53; p=0.012). Higher accelerometer-measured PA was associated with better SDQ prosocial scores. Major brain injury in the neonatal period was associated with less moderate-vigorous and less unstructured PA at 4–5 years. Conclusions: Higher levels of PA are associated with aspects of motor, cognitive and social-emotional skill development in children 4–5 years old born <30 weeks. Those with major brain injury in the neonatal period may be more vulnerable to low PA at preschool age.
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Published Online First 26 February 2024
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© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.