Infants born after suspected preterm labor, including term infants, are at risk of developing symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to results of a 30-month follow-up study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.¹

A prospective cohort study was conducted to examine if infants born after suspected preterm labor were at an increased risk of developing ADHD.

For this, researchers enrolled 120 mother-infant pairs. Twenty-eight infants were born full term (≥37 weeks of gestation) born after a suspected preterm labor, 56 were late preterm infants (born between 32 and <37 weeks of gestation), while 36 were very premature infants (born before 32 weeks of gestation). The control group included full-term infants born without obstetric complications. The infants were followed up to 30 months when they were evaluated for ADHD.

After 30 months, the symptoms of ADHD were more evident in infants born after a suspected preterm labor compared to the control group. When specific symptoms were examined, emotional lability (crying, outbursts, frustration, or mood changes) was more prevalent among the late-preterm infants and full-term infants born after a suspected preterm labor. Very preterm infants exhibited higher restless (distractibility, restlessness, fidgety) or impulsive behaviors and inattentive symptoms. Male infants and those born to mothers with posttraumatic stress symptoms after a suspected preterm labor had more severe ADHD symptoms.

This study corroborates emerging evidence regarding the long-term impact of suspected preterm labor on neurodevelopment of infants. It shows that infants born to mothers with suspected preterm labor were at greater risk of developing ADHD symptoms at age 2.5 years regardless of the gestational age they were born at. Nevertheless, gestational age did have a bearing on the ADHD phenotype. Preterm infants therefore are “a novel population at risk of developing ADHD symptoms”, write the authors.

The study highlights the need for close monitoring of infants born after suspected preterm labor, including those born at full term, for early detection and management of ADHD.

Reference

1. Navalón P, et al. Are infants born after an episode of suspected preterm labor at risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder? A 30-month follow-up study. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2022 Jun 4;S0002-9378(22)00440-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2022.05.065.