Integrated Analysis of Preterm Birth and Socioeconomic Status with Neonatal Brain Structure
Authors: Mckinnon Katie , Galdi Paola , Blesa-Cábez Manuel , Sullivan Gemma , Vaher Kadi , Corrigan Amy , Hall Jill , Jiménez-Sánchez Lorena , Thrippleton Michael , Bastin Mark E , Quigley Alan J. , Valavani Evdoxia , Tsanas Athanasios , Richardson Hilary , Boardman James P. 
Published: December 2022

Structured abstract

Importance

Preterm birth and socioeconomic status (SES) are associated with brain structure in childhood, but the relative contributions of each during the neonatal period are unknown.

Objective

To investigate associations of gestational age (GA) and SES with neonatal brain morphology, by testing 3 hypotheses: GA and SES are associated with brain morphology; associations between SES and brain morphology vary across the GA range, and; associations between SES and brain structure/morphology depend on how SES is operationalized.

Design

Cohort study, recruited 2016-2021.

Setting

Single center, UK.

Participants

170 preterm infants and 91 term infants with median (range) birth GA 30+0(22+1-32+6) and 39+4(36+3-42+1) weeks, respectively. Exclusion criteria: major congenital malformation, chromosomal abnormality, congenital infection, cystic periventricular leukomalacia, hemorrhagic parenchymal infarction, post-hemorrhagic ventricular dilatation.

Exposures

Using linear ridge regression models, we investigated associations of GA and SES, operationalized at the neighborhood-level (Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation), family-level (parental education and occupation) and subjectively (WHO Quality of Life), with regional brain volumes and cortical morphology.

Main outcomes/measures

Brain volume (85 parcels) and 5 whole-brain cortical morphology measures (gyrification index, thickness, sulcal depth, curvature, surface area) at term-equivalent age.

Results

In fully adjusted models, GA associated with a higher proportion of brain volumes (22/85 [26%], β range |-0.13| to |0.22|) than neighborhood SES (1/85 [1%], β=0.17). GA associated with cortical surface area (β=0.10 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.02-0.18]) and gyrification index (β=0.16 [95% CI 0.07-0.25]); neighborhood SES did not. Family-level SES associated with the volumes of more parcels than neighborhood SES, but it did not have as extensive associations with brain structure as GA. There were interactions between GA and both family- and subjective-level SES measures on brain structure.

Conclusions/relevance

In a UK cohort, GA and SES impact neonatal brain morphology, but low GA has more widely distributed effects on neonatal brain structure than neighborhood-level, family-level and subjective measures of SES. Further work is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms embedding GA and level-specific SES in early brain development.

Three key points

Question

What are the impacts of preterm birth and socioeconomic status (SES), operationalized at neighborhood, family, and subjective levels, on neonatal brain structure?

Finding

After mutual adjustment, both low gestational age (GA) and SES associate with brain structure. The nature of SES-brain structure associations varies depending how SES is operationalized; there are interactions between GA and measures of family- and subjective-level SES on brain structure.

Meaning

Low GA, and to a lesser extent SES, are associated with neonatal brain structure. Further work is required to elucidate the mechanisms that embed preterm birth and level-specific SES in the developing brain.