Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39528981›Full record

SynthesisBMC pediatrics2024

Motor outcomes in individuals born small for gestational age at term: a systematic review.

Hoda Taiar, Silje Dahl Benum, Kristina Anna Djupvik Aakvik, Kari Anne I Evensen

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC pediatrics, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. [Incidence of small for gestational age infants among singleton live births and analysis of risk factors].Zhongguo dang dai er ke za zhi = Chinese journal of contemporary pediatrics · 2025
    Article
  4. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Hoda TaiarFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
Silje Dahl BenumDepartment of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
Kristina Anna Djupvik AakvikDepartment of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
Kari Anne I EvensenDepartment of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway. karianne.i.evensen@ntnu.no.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundBeing born small for gestational age (SGA) is a risk factor for motor difficulties. Previous reviews exploring this topic are mostly focused on children born preterm. We aimed to review the literature to determine the association between being born SGA at term and motor outcomes.

methodsPubMed and Embase were searched for relevant articles without any restrictions on publication year or participants' age. Inclusion criteria were SGA exposure at term (≥ 37 weeks of gestation), cohort studies or randomized controlled trials with motor outcome assessed by standardized motor tests with results reported as continuous scores (mean/median) compared with a control group. Exclusion criteria were abstracts, editorials and commentaries, articles in non-English language or no full text available. Reviews were screened for relevant articles. Quality of included studies was assessed by the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

resultsIn total, 674 records were identified by the literature search and screened by two independent authors. Thirteen original articles were eligible and included in a qualitative synthesis, and five (38%) of these were included in a meta-analysis. Nine (69%) studies were from high-income countries. Most studies were carried out in early childhood, and only one study in adulthood. Seven (54%) articles reported that individuals born SGA at term had poorer scores on standardized motor tests compared with controls, while no differences were reported in five (38%) articles. One article did not report p-values, although the differences were comparable to the other studies. Group differences were of small to moderate effect size (0.19 to 0.65 standard deviation units). The pooled effect size was -0.43 (95% confidence interval: -0.60 to -0.25). Adjustment for covariates were reported in seven (54%) articles and did not change the results. Proportions of motor difficulties, reported in five (38%) articles, ranged from 8.9 to 50% in individuals born SGA from infancy to adolescence.

conclusionsThis systematic review shows that being born SGA, also at term, may be a risk factor for poorer motor outcomes throughout childhood, confirmed by a meta-analysis in early childhood. Further research is needed to establish the risk of adult motor difficulties in individuals born SGA at term.

Indexed as

Infant, Small for Gestational AgeChildHumansInfant, NewbornMotor SkillsRisk FactorsFetal growth restrctionIntrauterine growth restrictionMotor skillsSmall for gestational ageSystematic review

Identifiers

PMID39528981
PMCPMC11552374

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.