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Original research
Grade 3 school performance among children born preterm: a population-based cohort study
  1. Deepak Louis1,
  2. Sapna Oberoi2,
  3. Florencia M Ricci1,
  4. Christy Pylypjuk3,
  5. Ruben Alvaro1,
  6. Mary Seshia1,
  7. Cecilia de Cabo1,
  8. Diane Moddemann4,
  9. Monica Sirski5,
  10. Lisa M Lix5,6,
  11. Allan Garland5,7,
  12. Chelsea Anastasia Ruth1,5
  1. 1 Section of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
  2. 2 Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Manitoba, Winipeg, Manitoba, Canada
  3. 3 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
  4. 4 Neonatal Follow up program, Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
  5. 5 Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
  6. 6 Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
  7. 7 Department of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
  1. Correspondence to Dr Deepak Louis, Section of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg R3A1R9, MB R3T 2N2, Canada; dlouis{at}hsc.mb.ca

Abstract

Objective To study the association between prematurity and grade 3 school performance in a contemporary cohort of children.

Methods Population-based retrospective cohort study in Manitoba, Canada. Children born between 1999 and 2011 who had their grade 3 school performance data available were eligible. Preterm birth (<37 weeks) was the exposure of interest assessed using multivariable logistic regression models. Our primary outcomes were ‘needs ongoing help’ or ‘outside the range’ in at least two of each of the (1) four numeracy and (2) three reading competencies.

Results Of the 186 956 eligible children, 101 436 children (7187 preterm (gestational age, median (IQR) 35 weeks (34, 36)) and 94 249 term (40 weeks (39,40)) were included. Overall, 19% of preterm and 14% of term children had the numeracy outcome (adjusted OR (aOR) 1.38; 95% CI 1.29 to 1.47, p<0.001), while 19% and 13% had the reading outcome (aOR 1.38; 1.29 to 1.48, p<0.001). These differences showed a gestational age gradient. Gestational age (for numeracy, <28 weeks aOR 4.93 (3.45 to 7.03), 28–33 weeks 1.72 (1.50 to 1.98), 34–36 weeks 1.24 (1.15 to 1.34); for reading, <28 weeks 3.51 (2.40 to 5.14), 28–33 weeks 1.72 (1.49 to 1.98), 34–36 weeks 1.24 (1.17–1.37)), male sex, small for gestational age and maternal medical and sociodemographic factors were associated with the numeracy and reading outcomes in this cohort.

Conclusions and relevance Children born preterm had poorer performance in grade 3 numeracy and reading proficiencies than children born full term. All children born preterm, not just those born extremely preterm, should be screened for reading and numeracy performance in school and strategies implemented to address any deficits.

  • Child Development
  • Neonatology
  • Paediatrics

Data availability statement

All data relevant to the study are included in the article or uploaded as supplementary information.

https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2022-324746

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    Data availability statement

    All data relevant to the study are included in the article or uploaded as supplementary information.

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    Footnotes

    • Twitter @dips_neo

    • Contributors Drs DL and CAR conceptualised and designed the study and reviewed and revised the manuscript. Dr DL drafted the initial manuscript. Ms MS built the study cohort and performed the data analysis. Drs DL, CAR, AG, LML and SO supervised the initial analyses. Drs AG, LML, DM, MS, RA, CdeC, CP, FMR and SO supervised data collection and critically reviewed the manuscript for important intellectual content. DL is guarantor.

    • Funding This work was supported by a Research Manitoba New Investigator Grant No: 3858 awarded to DL in 2019 and the Children’s Research Institute of Manitoba (CHRIM) operating Grant No. OG2018-02 awarded to DL in 2020.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

    • Supplemental material This content has been supplied by the author(s). It has not been vetted by BMJ Publishing Group Limited (BMJ) and may not have been peer-reviewed. Any opinions or recommendations discussed are solely those of the author(s) and are not endorsed by BMJ. BMJ disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on the content. Where the content includes any translated material, BMJ does not warrant the accuracy and reliability of the translations (including but not limited to local regulations, clinical guidelines, terminology, drug names and drug dosages), and is not responsible for any error and/or omissions arising from translation and adaptation or otherwise.