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Cortisol awakening response and developmental outcomes at 6-7 years in children born extremely preterm.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Lowe, J; Fuller, JF; Dempsey, AG; Do, B; Bann, CM; Das, A; Gustafson, KE; Vohr, BR; Hintz, SR; Watterberg, KL ...
Published in: Pediatr Res
February 2023

BACKGROUND: Extremely preterm (EPT) birth has been related to dysregulation of stress responses and behavioral/learning problems at school age. Early adverse experiences can blunt HPA axis reactivity. We hypothesized that an attenuated cortisol awakening response would be associated with developmental and behavioral problems at school age in EPT children. METHODS: This secondary analysis of a sub-cohort of the SUPPORT study included children born between 24 and 27 weeks, evaluated at 6-7 years with a neurodevelopmental battery and cortisol measures. Differences were tested between EPT and a term-born group. Relationships of cortisol awakening response to test scores were analyzed. RESULTS: Cortisol was measured in 110 EPT and 29 term-born 6-7 year olds. Unadjusted WISC-IV and NEPSY-II scores were significantly worse among EPT children only. Conners Parent Rating Scale behavior scores were significantly worse among EPT children. After adjusting for covariates, blunted cortisol awakening responses were found to be associated with poorer scores on memory tests and greater problems with inattention for the EPT group (p < 0.05) only. CONCLUSIONS: Among children born EPT, we identified an association of blunted cortisol awakening response with memory and inattention problems. This may have implications related to stress reactivity and its relationship to learning problems in children born EPT. GOV ID: Extended Follow-up at School Age for the SUPPORT Neuroimaging and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes (NEURO) Cohort: NCT00233324. IMPACT: In children born EPT, stress reactivity may have a relationship to learning problems. Cortisol awakening response should be a component for follow-up in EPT born children. Components of executive function, such as memory and attention, are related to stress reactivity.

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Published In

Pediatr Res

DOI

EISSN

1530-0447

Publication Date

February 2023

Volume

93

Issue

3

Start / End Page

689 / 695

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Pituitary-Adrenal System
  • Pediatrics
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Extremely Premature
  • Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System
  • Hydrocortisone
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Executive Function
  • Child
 

Citation

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Lowe, J., Fuller, J. F., Dempsey, A. G., Do, B., Bann, C. M., Das, A., … SUPPORT NEURO School-Age Study Subcommittee of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network, . (2023). Cortisol awakening response and developmental outcomes at 6-7 years in children born extremely preterm. Pediatr Res, 93(3), 689–695. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-022-02113-9
Lowe, Jean, Janell F. Fuller, Allison G. Dempsey, Barbara Do, Carla M. Bann, Abhik Das, Kathryn E. Gustafson, et al. “Cortisol awakening response and developmental outcomes at 6-7 years in children born extremely preterm.Pediatr Res 93, no. 3 (February 2023): 689–95. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-022-02113-9.
Lowe J, Fuller JF, Dempsey AG, Do B, Bann CM, Das A, et al. Cortisol awakening response and developmental outcomes at 6-7 years in children born extremely preterm. Pediatr Res. 2023 Feb;93(3):689–95.
Lowe, Jean, et al. “Cortisol awakening response and developmental outcomes at 6-7 years in children born extremely preterm.Pediatr Res, vol. 93, no. 3, Feb. 2023, pp. 689–95. Pubmed, doi:10.1038/s41390-022-02113-9.
Lowe J, Fuller JF, Dempsey AG, Do B, Bann CM, Das A, Gustafson KE, Vohr BR, Hintz SR, Watterberg KL, SUPPORT NEURO School-Age Study Subcommittee of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network. Cortisol awakening response and developmental outcomes at 6-7 years in children born extremely preterm. Pediatr Res. 2023 Feb;93(3):689–695.

Published In

Pediatr Res

DOI

EISSN

1530-0447

Publication Date

February 2023

Volume

93

Issue

3

Start / End Page

689 / 695

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Pituitary-Adrenal System
  • Pediatrics
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Extremely Premature
  • Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System
  • Hydrocortisone
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Executive Function
  • Child