Trajectories of attention problems in preschoolers born very preterm.

Creator(s)

Marie Camerota
Francisco Xavier Castellanos
Brian S. Carter, Children's Mercy HospitalFollow
Jennifer Check
Jennifer Helderman
Julie A. Hofheimer
Elisabeth C. McGowan
Charles R. Neal
Steven L. Pastyrnak
Lynne M. Smith
Thomas Michael O'Shea
Carmen J. Marsit
Barry M. Lester

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-2025

Identifier

DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.14074

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Children born preterm are at heightened risk for neurodevelopmental impairment, including specific deficits in attention. Few studies have investigated change over time in attention problems prior to school entry. The current study aims to describe trajectories of attention problems from age 2 through 5 years in a cohort of children born(GA), identify sociodemographic, medical, and neurobehavioral characteristics associated with attention trajectories, and test whether attention problem trajectories predict the risk of a reported attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis.

METHODS: We studied 608 infants from the Neonatal Neurobehavior and Outcomes in Very Preterm Infants (NOVI) Study, a prospective, multisite study of infants born2, 3, 4, and 5 years using the Child Behavior Checklist and the Behavior Assessment System for Children. Sociodemographic and medical characteristics were assessed via maternal interview and medical record review. Neurobehavioral characteristics were determined using neonatal and 2-year assessments. Parent report of child ADHD diagnosis was obtained. We used latent growth curve (LGC) modeling to test our study aims.

RESULTS: A linear LGC model provided the best fit to the data. The average trajectory of attention problems evidenced low initial levels of symptoms and little change over time, yet there was significant heterogeneity in both initial levels and change over time. Individual differences in trajectory parameters were associated with sociodemographic, medical, environmental, and neurobehavioral characteristics. Children with higher initial levels of attention problems as well as steeper increases in attention problems over time were more likely to have a reported ADHD diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS: There is significant heterogeneity in trajectories of attention problems from age 2 to 5 in children born < 30 weeks of GA and these differences have clinical relevance. These data could inform follow-up guidelines for preterm infants..

Journal Title

Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines

Volume

66

Issue

5

First Page

667

Last Page

676

MeSH Keywords

Humans; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; Female; Male; Child, Preschool; Infant, Extremely Premature; Infant, Newborn; Prospective Studies

PubMed ID

39523488

Keywords

Attention problems; attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; preschool; preterm; trajectories

Comments

Grants and funding

• UH3OD023347/NIH Office of the Director
• K01 MH129510/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States
• UG3OD023347/NIH Office of the Director
• R01HD072267/National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
• R01 HD072267/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/United States
• K01MH129510/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States
• UG3 OD023347/OD/NIH HHS/United States
• UH3 OD023347/OD/NIH HHS/United States
• K01MH129510/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States

This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.

Publisher's Link: https://acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jcpp.14074

Recommended Citation

Camerota M, Castellanos FX, Carter BS, et al. Trajectories of attention problems in preschoolers born very preterm. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2025;66(5):667-676. doi:10.1111/jcpp.14074