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1
The study analyzed medical records of 2634 Pakistani children aged 2–6 years to assess the link between preterm birth and neurodevelopmental disorders.
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2
Preterm birth prevalence was 27.7%, with neurodevelopmental disorder rates significantly higher in preterm children compared to full-term children.
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3
The prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders increased with the severity of prematurity, reaching 55.6% in extremely preterm children.
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4
Multivariable analysis identified preterm birth, low maternal education, male sex, low income, and NICU admission as independent risk factors for neurodevelopmental disorders.
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5
Children who were preterm and from low socioeconomic status households had the highest odds of neurodevelopmental disorders, with an adjusted odds ratio of 9.43.
