Follow-up of adolescents born extremely preterm: cognitive function and health at 18 years of age

Aim: To compare cognitive ability, school achievement and self-perceived health aspects in adolescents born extremely preterm and term born controls. Method: Fifty-two, out of 61, extremely preterm born adolescents (mean age 18.4 years) and 54 matched controls (mean age 18.3 years) born at full term were investigated; intelligence quotient was measured with the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale; cognitive flexibility, i.e. a measure of visuomotor speed and attention, with the Trail Making Test; school achievement and choice of upper secondary programmes were reported. Health aspects were investigated in a semi structured interview. Result: The adolescents born prematurely had significantly lower IQ than the controls, mean 93 (SD 15.4) vs 106 (12.5), p < 0.001; showed slower visuomotor speed; had lower grades from compulsory school (192.7 vs 234.8, p < 0.001); and chose to a greater extent practical upper secondary school programmes. There were no differences between the groups in health care consumption, prevalence of chronic disease, allergy or infectious diseases. Conclusion: Poorer cognitive performance, in extremely preterm born individuals, seems to persist into late adolescence. Fewer prematurely born than control chose theoretical upper secondary school programmes. However, no difference was noted regarding self-perceived health aspects.