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Low birth weight associated with increased risk for psychiatric disorders

Patients in their early to mid-30s who were born at extremely low birth weight have a greater risk for developing psychiatric disorders, according to data published in Pediatrics.

Ryan J. Van Lieshout, MD, PhD, FRCPC, of the departments of psychiatry and behavioral neurosciences, at McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada and colleagues examined psychiatric disorders among 84 extremely low birth weight survivors, and 90 normal birth weight controls born between 1977 and 1982.

Ryan J. Van Lieshout

“Importantly, we have identified psychiatric risks that may develop for extremely low birth weight survivors as they become adults, and this understanding will help us better predict, detect and treat mental disorders in this population,” Van Lieshout said in a press release.

Data from the prospective, longitudinal, population-based cohort study revealed that those with low birth weight were less likely to have an alcohol or substance use disorder. However, they were more likely to have current non-substance-related psychiatric disorders (OR=2.47; 95% CI, 1.19-5.14).

Similar odds with greater significance were observed among patients born at extremely low birth weight (OR=3.82; 95% CI, 1.46-10.04) and small for gestational age (OR=0.11; 95% CI, 0.01-0.88), according to data.

Furthermore, patients with extremely low birth weight who were administered antenatal corticosteroid (ACS) tended to have greater odds for any current non-substance-related psychiatric disorders (OR=4.41; 95% CI, 1.65-11.82).

Specifically, extremely low birth weight patients were more likely to develop generalized anxiety disorder (OR=3.42; 95% CI, 1.06-11.06); the generalized type of social phobia (OR=5.80; 95% CI, 1.20-27.99); and the inattentive subtype of ADHD (OR=11.45; 95% CI, 2.06-63.50), according to data. – by Samantha Costa

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.