Primal Health Databank: Study
| Entry No: | 0597 |
| Title: | Does prenatal sonography affect intellectual performance? |
| Author(s): | Kieler H, Haglund B, Cnattingius S, Palmgren J, Axelsson O |
| Reference: | Epidemiology. 2005 May;16(3):304-10 |
| Place of Study: | Sweden |
| Abstract: | To assess a possible association between prenatal ultrasound and intellectual performance, the authors studied men born in Sweden from 1973 to 1978 who enrolled for military service from 1991 to 1996. Intellectual scores (mean +/- standard deviation = 5 +/- 2) were measured by a test battery at enrollment, and subnormal performance was defined as a score of 3 or less. We estimated differences in mean intellectual score between ultrasound-exposed and ultrasound-unexposed using linear regression, and we calculated relative risks of subnormal performance using logistic regression analysis. There were 7999 eligible men born in a hospital (Malmo) that included ultrasound scanning in standard antenatal care (exposed) and 197,829 men born in hospitals without ultrasound scanning programs (unexposed). The authors found lower intellectual performance scores (mean difference = -0.16; 95% confidence interval = -0.21 to -0.11) and an increased risk of subnormal performance (odds ratio = 1.28; CI = 1.18 to 1.38) among ultrasound-exposed compared with unexposed. However, men born in Malmo before scanning was introduced also had lower scores, and the decrease in test scores after the introduction of ultrasound was small. Moreover, there were no differences in intellectual performance within pairs of brothers as a result of ultrasound exposure. This study failed to demonstrate a clear association between ultrasound scanning and intellectual performance. |
| Keyword(s): | Intellectual quotient, IQ, ultrasound scans |
| Discussion: | No discussion mentioned for this entry |
| See Also: | No related entries mentioned for this entry |
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