BACKGROUND: Increased prevalence of motor and visual problems has been reported in low birth weight populations, but the association between them is less studied. AIM: To examine how visual impairments may be associated with the increased risk of motor problems in low birth weight adolescents. METHODS: Fifty-one very low birth weight adolescents (VLBW), 56 term small for gestational age (SGA) and 75 term control adolescents, without cerebral palsy, were examined at the age of 14. Motor skills were examined by the Movement Assessment Battery for Children. Visual functions included visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, nystagmus, strabismus, stereoacuity, accommodation, convergence and visual perception (Visual-Motor Integration test). An abnormality score was calculated as the sum of visual impairments. We used odds ratio as an estimate of the relative risk of having motor problems. RESULTS: The odds of having motor problems were 10.4 (95% CI: 2.2-49.4) in the VLBW group and 5.1 (95% CI: 1.0-25.8) in the SGA group compared with the control group. The odds of having motor problems in the VLBW group were influenced by all visual variables, and most by visual acuity, when we adjusted for these separately. The greatest reduction in OR was found when adjusting for the abnormality score (adjusted OR: 6.8; 95% CI: 1.3-34.5). In the SGA group the odds of having motor problems were relatively unaffected by the visual variables and the abnormality score. CONCLUSIONS: Visual impairments influence motor problems in VLBW adolescents, whereas motor problems in SGA adolescents seem to be unaffected by visual impairments.
BACKGROUND: Increased prevalence of motor and visual problems has been reported in low birth weight populations, but the association between them is less studied. AIM: To examine how visual impairments may be associated with the increased risk of motor problems in low birth weight adolescents. METHODS: Fifty-one very low birth weight adolescents (VLBW), 56 term small for gestational age (SGA) and 75 term control adolescents, without cerebral palsy, were examined at the age of 14. Motor skills were examined by the Movement Assessment Battery for Children. Visual functions included visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, nystagmus, strabismus, stereoacuity, accommodation, convergence and visual perception (Visual-Motor Integration test). An abnormality score was calculated as the sum of visual impairments. We used odds ratio as an estimate of the relative risk of having motor problems. RESULTS: The odds of having motor problems were 10.4 (95% CI: 2.2-49.4) in the VLBW group and 5.1 (95% CI: 1.0-25.8) in the SGA group compared with the control group. The odds of having motor problems in the VLBW group were influenced by all visual variables, and most by visual acuity, when we adjusted for these separately. The greatest reduction in OR was found when adjusting for the abnormality score (adjusted OR: 6.8; 95% CI: 1.3-34.5). In the SGA group the odds of having motor problems were relatively unaffected by the visual variables and the abnormality score. CONCLUSIONS:Visual impairments influence motor problems in VLBW adolescents, whereas motor problems in SGA adolescents seem to be unaffected by visual impairments.
Authors: Mari Holm; Michael E Msall; Jon Skranes; Olaf Dammann; Elizabeth Allred; Alan Leviton Journal: Eur J Paediatr Neurol Date: 2014-10-12 Impact factor: 3.140
Authors: Kari Anne I Evensen; Kristina Anna Djupvik Aakvik; Ingrid Marie Husby Hollund; Jon Skranes; Ann-Mari Brubakk; Marit S Indredavik Journal: Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol Date: 2022-07-22 Impact factor: 3.103
Authors: Claire E Kelly; Jeanie L Y Cheong; Carly Molloy; Peter J Anderson; Katherine J Lee; Alice C Burnett; Alan Connelly; Lex W Doyle; Deanne K Thompson Journal: PLoS One Date: 2014-03-24 Impact factor: 3.240