Burden of mental, behavioral, and neurodevelopmental disorders in the Finnish most preterm children: a national register study




Leppänen, Marika; Pape, Bernd; Ripatti, Liisi; Karukivi, Max; Haataja, Leena; Rautava, Päivi

PublisherSPRINGER

2024

 European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

EUROPEAN CHILD & ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY

EUR CHILD ADOLES PSY

33

431

438

8

1018-8827

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-023-02172-1

https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-023-02172-1

https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/179019919



Etiologies and the whole picture in childhood mental, behavioral, and neurodevelopmental disorders related to gestational age are unclear. This study included all Finnish children (N = 341,632) born between January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2006, whose data including their mothers (N = 241,284) were collected from national registers. Children with unclear gestational age (GA) (N = 1245), severe congenital malformations (N = 11,746), and moderate/severe/undefined cognitive impairment (N = 1140), and those who died during the perinatal period (N = 599) were excluded. The main outcome was the prevalence of mental and behavioral disorders (International Classification of Disorders) at 0 - 12 years of age in association with GA, adjusted for gender and prenatal variables. Out of all included (N = 326,902) children 16.6% (N = 54,270) were diagnosed to have any mental health disorder at 0 - 12 years. Adjusted Odd Ratio (OR) were for any disorder in preterm (< 37 weeks) 1.37 [1.28 - 1.46] and 4.03 [3.08 - 5.26] in extreme preterm (<= 28 weeks) versus term born children, p < 0.05. The lower the GA at birth, the higher the risk for multiple disorders and earlier onset of disorder, p < 0.05. Adjusted ORs were for male/female 1.94 [1.90 - 1.99], maternal mental health disorder (yes/not) 1.99 [1.92 - 2.07], and smoking during pregnancy (yes/not) 1.58 [1.54 - 1.62], and these risks were more common in preterm versus term born children (p < 0.05). Extreme early birth was a strong risk factor per se for any or multiple and early shown mental health disorders. Other risk factors for mental health accumulated to preterm children.



Maternal factors

Last updated on 05/02/2026 03:46:14 PM