Research Article: A Narrative Review of the Association between Prematurity and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Accompanying Inequities across the Life-Course
Abstract:
Preterm birth is associated with an increased risk of neurodevelopmental and neurobehavioral impairments including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the most common neurobehavioral disorder of childhood. In this narrative review, we examine the known associations between prematurity and ADHD and highlight the impact of both prematurity and ADHD on multiple domains across the pediatric life-course. We develop a framework for understanding the health services journey of individuals with ADHD to access appropriate services and treatments for ADHD, the “ADHD Care Cascade”. We then discuss the many racial and ethnic inequities that affect the risk of preterm birth as well as the steps along the “ADHD Care Cascade”. By using a life-course approach, we highlight the ways in which inequities are layered over time to magnify the neurodevelopmental impact of preterm birth on the most vulnerable children across the life-course.
Introduction:
In the United States, approximately 10.5% of babies are born premature (birth prior to 37 weeks), equating to roughly 385,000 preterm infants born each year [1]. Lower gestational age at birth is associated with a higher risk of neurologic complications in the neonatal period, such as intraventricular hemorrhage and periventricular leukomalacia. Prematurity is also associated with several other medical comorbidities such as motor impairment, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, necrotizing enterocolitis, and retinopathy of…
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