Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42525480›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of epidemiology2026

Gestational age at birth and the risk of disability pension in early adulthood: a whole-population register study of people born in Finland in 1987-90.

Oksanen Päivi, Tikanmäki Marjaana, Alenius Suvi, Metsälä Johanna, Gissler Mika, Lahti-Pulkkinen Marius, Heikkilä Katriina, Räikkönen Katri, Ala-Mursula Leena, Kajantie Eero

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Article in International journal of epidemiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Oksanen PäiviClinical Medicine Research Unit, Medical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.ORCID 0000-0003-4068-5967
Tikanmäki MarjaanaClinical Medicine Research Unit, Medical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
Alenius SuviClinical Medicine Research Unit, Medical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
Metsälä JohannaClinical Medicine Research Unit, Medical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
Gissler MikaPublic Health Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki and Oulu, Finland.ORCID 0000-0001-8254-7525
Lahti-Pulkkinen MariusDepartment of Psychology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Heikkilä KatriinaClinical Medicine Research Unit, Medical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
Räikkönen KatriDepartment of Psychology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Ala-Mursula LeenaResearch Unit of Population Health, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
Kajantie EeroClinical Medicine Research Unit, Medical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.

Funding

Academy of FinlandAlfred Kordelin foundationDiabetes Research FoundationDoctoral Programs of public Health, University of HelsinkiFinnish Medical FoundationFoundation for Cardiovascular ResearchFoundation for Pediatrics ResearchJalmari and Rauha Ahokas FoundationJuho Vainio FoundationNovo Nordisk FoundationOrion Research Foundation srPäivikki and Sakari Sohlberg FoundationPaulo FoundationSigne and Ane Gyllenberg FoundationSigrid Juselius Foundationthe University of Oulu Graduate School, Health and Biosciences DoctoralUniversity of Oulu strategicYrjö Jahnsson Foundation
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPreterm (<37 weeks), early-term (37-38 weeks), or post-term (42 weeks) birth may elevate the risk of mental, neurodevelopmental, and cardiopulmonary disease in adulthood, potentially impacting work capacity.

methodsWe examined the association between gestational age and early disability pension (DP) among 228 572 Finnish individuals born between 1 January 1987 and 30 September 1990. We identified the first DP decision from ages 16 to ∼32 years (2003-20) by using linked birth and DP records, including timing and diagnosis. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals were estimated by using Cox regression, with full-term birth (39-41 weeks) as the reference.

resultsA total of 9224 individuals (4.0%) received DPs. Adjusted for sex and birth year, the HRs for DP by gestational age groups of 23-31, 32-33, 34-36, 37-38, and 42 weeks were 5.20 (4.52-5.99), 2.47 (2.04-3.00), 1.55 (1.41-1.70), 1.22 (1.16-1.29), and 1.12 (1.01-1.25). Among preterm adults, the most common diagnoses included cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, depression, and schizophrenia. For early-term and post-term adults, depression and schizophrenia were the most frequent.

conclusionPreterm, early-term, and post-term births were associated with early DPs, with slightly different diagnostic profiles. The risk was highest among those born very preterm (<32 weeks). High-quality perinatological care is crucial regarding future careers and societal costs.

Indexed as

Gestational AgePensionsPersons with DisabilitiesPremature BirthAdolescentAdultFemaleFinlandHumansInfant, NewbornInfant, PrematureMaleProportional Hazards ModelsRegistriesRisk FactorsYoung Adultdisability pensionearly-termpost-termpreterm

Identifiers

PMID42525480
PMCPMC13418203

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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.