Factors associated with developmental delay in late preterm infants: the BRISA cohort

Paulo Ricardo Higassiaraguti Rocha; Gabriela Pap da Silva; Otávio Augusto Gratão; Marco Antonio Barbieri; Viviane Cunha Cardoso; Maria da Conceição Pereira Saraiva; Heloisa Bettiol

doi:10.1016/j.jped.2025.04.002

Factors associated with developmental delay in late preterm infants: the BRISA cohort

J Pediatr (Rio J). 2025 May 14:S0021-7557(25)00080-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jped.2025.04.002. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Paulo Ricardo Higassiaraguti Rocha¹, Gabriela Pap da Silva², Otávio Augusto Gratão², Marco Antonio Barbieri², Viviane Cunha Cardoso², Maria da Conceição Pereira Saraiva³, Heloisa Bettiol²

Affiliations

¹ Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Departamento de Pediatria, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: paulo_higa16@hotmail.com.
² Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Departamento de Pediatria, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
³ Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Odontologia de Ribeirão Preto, Departamento de Odontopediatria, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.

PMID: 40349721
DOI: 10.1016/j.jped.2025.04.002

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the association of sociodemographic characteristics, gestational factors, and birth outcomes with developmental delay from the second year of life in late preterm (LPT) infants.

Method: This study included 327 LPT infants from a cohort started in 2010. Developmental performance was assessed using the Bayley-III screening test. The covariates were obtained with questionnaires and from the maternity records. Hierarchical multiple logistic regression was used for analysis.

Results: Smoking during pregnancy was associated with fine motor and cognitive delays (OR = 2.27, 95 %CI 1.05-4.93 and OR = 2.22, 95 %CI 1.05-4.68, respectively). Living without a partner (OR = 2.98, 95 %CI 1.36-6.52) and intrauterine growth restriction of the child (OR = 2.63, 95 %CI 1.32-5.24) were associated with fine motor delay and neonatal intensive care unit admission with cognitive delay (OR = 2.11, 95 %CI 1.01-4.44).

Conclusions: These factors must be considered when implementing strategies for the diagnosis of possible developmental delays and when designing interventions for LPT children.

Keywords: Cognition; Cohort studies; Motor skills; Premature birth; Risk factors.