{
  "abstract": "Objective To determine the prevalence of significant motor difficulties at 12 years of age in children born extremely preterm (EPT, <28 weeks’ gestational age) compared with term-born peers and to identify associated risk factors and comorbidities.Design Population-based cohort study.Setting National cohort from the Extremely Preterm Infants in Sweden Study, including children born from 2004 to 2007.Patients Children born <27 weeks’ gestational age without cerebral palsy and/or severe neurodevelopmental impairment and term-born controls.Interventions Motor function was assessed at 12 years using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children, second edition (MABC-2). Logistic regression identified risk factors for motor difficulties.Main outcome measures Prevalence of significant motor difficulties, defined as scores ≤fifth percentile on MABC-2.Results A total of 268 EPT-born and 196 term-born children were assessed. Significant motor difficulties were found in 30% of EPT-born children compared with 3% of term-born peers (adjusted OR 16.99; 95% CI 6.64 to 43.47). Male sex and lower gestational age were independently associated with higher risk. Among EPT-born children with motor difficulties, comorbidities were common, including autism spectrum disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorders. Only 9.5% of affected children had received physiotherapy in the previous year.Conclusions Children born EPT, even in the absence of cerebral palsy and/or severe neurodevelopmental impairment, have a markedly increased risk of motor difficulties and associated neurodevelopmental comorbidities by age 12. Structured follow-up into mid-school age is essential to enable timely interventions.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Women's and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden",
        "Medical Unit Allied Health Professionals, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden"
      ],
      "name": "Maria Örtqvist"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Women's and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden"
      ],
      "name": "Nelly Padilla"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Women's and Children’s Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden",
        "Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden"
      ],
      "name": "Cecilia Montgomery"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Pediatrics, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden",
        "Department of Neonatology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden"
      ],
      "name": "Karin Sävman"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden",
        "Crown Princess Victoria Children's Hospital, Linköping University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden"
      ],
      "name": "Thomas Abrahamsson"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Clinical Sciences, Pediatrics, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden"
      ],
      "name": "Aijaz Farooqi"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Women's and Children’s Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden"
      ],
      "name": "Fredrik Serenius"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden"
      ],
      "name": "Lisa B Thorell"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Women's and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden",
        "Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden",
        "Neonatal Unit, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden"
      ],
      "name": "Ulrika Ådén"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Motor difficulties and associated risk factors at 12 years in children born extremely preterm: a population-based cohort study",
  "uid": "29fbbe18-22cb-53cf-8375-dfa54d4c3740"
}