Early factors associated with risk of developmental coordination disorder in very preterm children: A prospective area‐based cohort study in Italy

BACKGROUND: Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is a motor disorder of unknown aetiology that may have long‐term consequences on daily activities, and psychological and physical health. Studies investigating risk factors for DCD have so far provided inconsistent results. OBJECTIVES: To assess, using a parent‐report screening tool, risk of DCD in school‐age very preterm children born in Italy, and investigate the associated early biomedical and sociodemographic factors. METHODS: A prospective area‐based cohort (804 children, response rate 73.4%) was assessed at 8–11 years of age in three Italian regions. Perinatal data were abstracted from medical records. DCD risk was measured using the Italian‐validated version of the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCDQ‐IT). For this study, children with cognitive deficit (i.e. intelligence quotient <70), cerebral palsy, severe vision and hearing disabilities, and other impairments affecting movement were excluded. A total of 629 children were analysed. We used inverse probability weighting to account for loss to follow‐up, and multilevel, multivariable modified Poisson models to obtain adjusted risk ratio (aRR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Missing values in the covariates were imputed. RESULTS: 195 children (weighted proportion 31.8%, 95% CI 28.2, 35.6) scored positive on the DCDQ‐IT, corresponding to the 15th centile of the reference Movement‐ABC test. Factors associated with overall DCD risk were male sex (aRR 1.35, 95% CI 1.05, 1.73), intrauterine growth restriction (aRR 1.45, 95% CI 1.14, 1.85), retinopathy of prematurity (aRR 1.62, 95% CI 1.07, 2.45), and older maternal age at delivery (aRR 1.39, 95% CI 1.09, 1.77). Complete maternal milk feeding at discharge from the neonatal unit and higher parental socio‐economic status were associated with decreased risk. CONCLUSIONS: Both biomedical and sociodemographic factors increase DCD risk. These findings can contribute to elucidating the origins of this disorder, and assist in the identification of children at risk for early referral and intervention.