Worse global intellectual and worse neuropsychological functioning in preterm-born children at preschool age: a meta-analysis

Preterm births (<32 weeks of gestational age) are associated with cognitive problems that are difficult to diagnose in infancy but potentially detectable at preschool age. This review aimed to evaluate the extent to which total intelligence quotient (IQ) and neuropsychological functions at ages three to five years differ between children born at <32 weeks gestational age or <1,500 g birth weight and children born at term. The secondary aim was to determine if cognitive performance differs between extremely preterm (EPT)/extremely low birth weight (ELBW) children and very preterm (VPT) or very low birth weight (VLBW) children.