The associations of fetal and early childhood growth with behaviour and cognitive outcomes in children aged 5-20 years: an individual participant data meta-analysis (DataSHIELD)

The main objectives are to first assess the associations between birth outcomes across the full range with behaviour and cognitive outcomes in an individual-participant (IPD) meta-analysis approach; second, we will assess different combinations of categories of birth weight and childhood body mass index (BMI) at two years old with behaviour and cognitive outcomes; Third, in a subset of participants we will assess second and third trimester fetal growth in combination with infant growth and the same behaviour and cognitive outcomes.
– Main exposures are birth characteristics (low or high birth weight, small or large size for gestational age and pre- or postterm birth), birth weight and infant weight growth, infant BMI and fetal growth in a subset of participants.
– Main outcomes of interest are internalizing and externalizing problems, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and intelligence quotient (IQ) in children aged 5-20 years.