Prematurity is a Risk Factor for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in School-Age Children

Premature birth increases risk for neurocognitive impairment, which can range from severe to subtle. Birth before 33 weeks' gestation has been shown to be a risk factor for attention problems in school-age children. To examine the risk associated with prematurity, including moderate preterm birth (33–36 weeks' gestation) and early term birth (37–38 weeks' gestation), researchers analyzed data for more than 1 million children born between 1987 and 2000 in Sweden. Birth, pharmacy, sociodemographic, and parental psychiatric data were obtained from national registries.

Overall, 7506 children had an ADHD prescription filled in 2006 at ages 6 to 19 years. Risk for ADHD increased with greater prematurity in analyses adjusted for year of birth, birt…