Determinants Of Developmental Coordination Disorder In 7-Year-Old Children: A Study Of Children In The Danish National Birth Cohort

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate early life determinants of developmental coordination disorder (DCD) in 7-year-old children. Method: The study was based on data from 33 354 women and their children who participated in the 7-year follow-up study of the Danish National Birth Cohort. Information on several potential determinants (maternal age at conception, maternal occupational status, smoking and alcohol consumption during pregnancy, child's sex, intrauterine growth restriction, degree of preterm birth, and age at walking) was obtained from population registries, from interviews during pregnancy and when the child was 18 months old. The outcome in this study was DCD at 7 years of age, measured by the validated Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire. The associations between the potential determinants and DCD were estimated using logistic regression. Results: The study population consisted of 17 065 males and 16 289 females (141 [0.4%] born very preterm [23+0-31+6wk]; 1281 [3.8%] born moderately preterm [32+0-36+6wk]; 29 044 [87.1%] were born term [37+0-41+6wk], and 2888 [8.7%] were born post-term [≥42+0wk]). Independently of each other, the following determinants were predictors of DCD: being a female (odds ratio [OR] 0.36 [95% confidence interval {CI} 0.31-0.41]); being born very preterm (OR 6.28 [95% CI 3.99-9.89]) or moderately preterm (OR 2.10 [95% CI 1.65-2.67]); being small for gestational age (OR 1.74 [95% CI 1.46-2.08]); being 15 months of age or more at walking attainment (OR 3.05 [95% CI 2.57-3.60]); and maternal occupational status (higher grade professionals (OR 1.28 [95% CI 1.02-1.61); economically inactive (OR 1.43 [95% CI 1.07-1.91]). Young maternal age and smoking were risk factors among term-born children. Interpretation: The risk of DCD increases with decreasing gestational age. Intrauterine growth restriction is also a strong risk factor, as well as delayed walking. This article is commented on by La Bastide-Van Gemert and van den Heuvel on pages 975-976 of this issue. © 2013 Mac Keith Press.