Association between cognition and the retinal microvasculature in 11-year old children born preterm or at term.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Retinal microvessels can be visualized non-invasively and mirror the status of the cerebral microvasculature.

Aims

To investigate whether in young children born prematurely or at term cognitive performance is related to retinal microvascular traits.

Study design, subjects

In 93 prematurely born infants (birth weight < 1000 g) and 87 controls born at term, we measured head circumference (HC) and determined intelligence quotient (IQ) by combining matrix reasoning and spatial span (Wechsler Non-Verbal test, Dutch version) and post-processed retinal photographs using Singapore I Vessel Assessment software (version 3.6).

Outcome measures, results

Compared with controls, cases had smaller HC (51.7 vs 53.4 cm; p < 0.001), lower IQ (93.9 vs 109.2; p < 0.001)

SUBMITTER: Wei FF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5885985 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature