Association between gestational age and child health and neurodevelopment in twins from a nationwide longitudinal survey in Japan.

ABSTRACT: Despite previous research, evidence on the relationship between gestational age and long-term health and neurodevelopmental outcomes among twins remains limited. Using data from the Longitudinal Survey of Babies in the 21st Century, we analyzed 549 twins born in Japan in 2010. The twins were grouped by gestational age: <32 weeks (very preterm), 32-36 weeks (moderately and late preterm), and 37-38 weeks (early term). The health status was evaluated by hospitalization between 0.5 and 5.5 years, and behavioral development was assessed using questionnaires at 2.5 and 5.5 years. Binomial log-linear regression with generalized estimating equations accounted for within-pair correlations and adjusted for child and parental variables. Moderately and late preterm children showed a higher risk of all

SUBMITTER: Tamai K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12627776 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature