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Background: Research has consistently demonstrated a greater risk for learning-related problems in children born preterm. However, little research has explored the longterm effects of early risk factors (RFs) on cognitive outcome. Thus, the associations between RFs and cognitive functions are the main focus of the present research.

Methods: A sample of 32 children born preterm (M GW=31.5, [22–35]; M age=7.7yrs) and 38 age and sex matched full-term born control group (M age=7.7) underwentWechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, 4th edition (WISC-IV) testing. A number of RF in the pre/perinatal period was identified from information in medical records.

Results: The children born preterm had significantly lower scores than full-term controls on the WISC-IV in terms of full-scale IQ (FSIQ; M=94.5 and 102.1 respectively) and performance index (PIQ) (M=100 and 106.8 respectively). Within the preterm group, standardized birth weight (BW) was positively correlated with FSIQ and PIQ. Further, the total number of RF was negatively correlated with FSIQ and working memory index.

Discussion: As previously shown, most of the children born preterm score within normal limits on the WISC-IV, they score significantly lower and demonstrate higher rates of sub-average IQ and PIQ than their full-term peers. Additionally, early RFs were associated with several measures of cognitive functioning. Thus, these results highlight the importance of including early medical history when analyzing outcomes of preterm birth. Further enquiries are necessary to look into the relationship between specific RFs and cognition in order to better predict outcomes.