Perinatal factors influence on the neurocognitive development of children born small for gestational age (SGA) during the first 2 years of life

Children born small for gestational age (SGA) show higher risk of neurodevelopmental and cognitive abnormalities. The objective of this study is to determine in children born SGA the neurodevelopment during the first 2 years of life and to establish the influence of anthropometric data, gestational age, multiple gestation and perinatal factors. Observational, prospective, descriptive and analytical study of the neurocognitive assessment performed, with Brunet-Lézine test, on SGA children (n = 91) from 3 to 24 months of age, comparing with own controls. Ninety-one SGA children, 47% girls, 83.5% single pregnancies; mean gestational age 37.7 weeks (standard deviation (SD) 2.1). Weight at birth 2053 g (SD 433.1), length 43.9 cm (SD 2.6) and head circumference 31.7 cm (SD 1.7). The SGA population shows significantly lower neurodevelopment than the control population, with a tendency to improve during the first 2 years of life. There are no differences by sex. SGA children born to multiple gestations have lower neurodevelopment only during the first year of life. There is a direct and positive correlation between weight, length and head circumference with neurocognitive development at 6, 9, 12 and 18 months. Gestational age correlated with better neurodevelopment at 3 and 6 months. Children born SGA present lower neurodevelopment than the control population. A greater impact on weight, length, and head circumference at birth is correlated with poorer neurocognitive development. Multiparity does not show significant influence on neurodevelopment evolution. Los niños nacidos pequeños para la edad gestacional (PEG) tienen mayor riesgo de presentar anomalías en el neurodesarrollo y la capacidad cognitiva. El objetivo del estudio es determinar el neurodesarrollo de niños PEG durante los primeros 2 años de vida y establecer la influencia de datos antropométricos, edad gestacional, gemelaridad y factores perinatales. Estudio observacional, prospectivo, descriptivo y analítico de la valoración neurocognitiva realizada, con el test de Brunet-Lézine, a niños PEG (n = 91) desde los 3 a los 24 meses de edad, comparándola con controles propios. 91 niños PEG, 47% mujeres, 83,5% gestaciones únicas; edad gestacional media 37,7 semanas (desviación estándar (DS) 2,1). Peso al nacimiento 2053,3 gramos (DS 433,1), longitud 43,9 cm (DS 2,6), y perímetro cefálico (PC) 31,7 cm (DS 1,7). La población PEG presenta un neurodesarrollo significativamente inferior a la población control, co