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This study investigates the association between self-reported birth weight (BW) and the prevalence of hypertensive retinopathy (HR) in a large population-based cohort in Germany, as part of the Gutenberg Health Study (GHS). The study involved analyzing fundus photographs of 6855 participants, aged 35 to 74, to assess signs of HR, classified according to the Mitchell-Wong Classification. The research aimed to explore the correlation between fetal growth restriction indicated by BW and the frequency of HR. The results showed that the frequency of HR did not significantly differ among groups with different BW ranges. In the univariable analysis, HR was initially associated with high BW, but this association disappeared after adjusting for age, sex, and cardiovascular risk factors. No association was found between low BW and HR. The study reveals novel insights as there are no prior population-based studies specifically exploring this association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Children with special health care needs (SHCN) perform more poorly at school compared to their classmates. Specific causal pathways have not yet been extensively studied. Therefore, we investigated teacher‐rated global attention, an important prerequisite for educational attainment, in children with SHCN. Methods: Data of a population‐based prospective cohort study, which recruited preschool children from the Mainz‐Bingen area, Germany, were analysed. Children with SHCN were identified by the Children with Special Health Care Needs screening tool. In 2016, global attention was reported by teachers at the end of first grade (mean age: 7.3 years) on a 5‐point rating scale ranging from −2 through +2. Associations between SHCN consequences and teacher‐rated attention were estimated by linear mixed models, adjusted for confounding variables. Results: We included 1921 children (51% males); of these, 14% had SHCN. Compared to their classmates, children with SHCN had poorer teacher‐rated attention scores (adjusted mean difference: −0.35, 95% CI: −0.52 to −0.17). The effect was strongest among children with treatment or counselling for mental health problems or functional limitations. The effect remained after excluding children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder from the analysis. Conclusion: Children with SHCN showed more teacher‐rated attention problems, which could explain their lower educational attainment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Intrauterine growth restriction leading to a birth weight (BW) which is too low for gestational age (GA) is a known risk factor for various altered organ morphologies and dysfunction in later life. This study aimed to determine for the first time the effects of being small (SGA) or large for gestational age (LGA) on the ocular geometry of adults born at term. Methods: All participants were examined with optical biometry (LenStar 900, Haag Streit) to compare the corneal curvature, white‐to‐white distance, anterior chamber depth, lens thickness and axial length between former moderate (BW percentile 3rd to <10th) and severe (BW <3rd percentile) SGA, controls (BW 10th‐90th percentile) and former moderate (BW >90th to 97th percentile) and severe (BW >97th percentile) LGA. Multivariable linear regression was used to analyse associations with GA, BW percentile categories, placental insufficiency, preeclampsia and breastfeeding after adjustment for age and sex. Results: In total, 589 eyes of 296 individuals born at term (aged 30.0 ± 9.4 years, 156 females) were examined, including 40 severe SGA, 38 moderate SGA, 140 with normal BW, 38 moderate LGA and 40 severe LGA. There was an association between a steeper corneal curvature with moderate (B = −0.201; p < 0.001) and severe SGA (B = −0.199; p < 0.001), with extreme SGA associated with smaller white‐to‐white (B = −0.263; p = 0.001) and a shorter axial length (B = −0.524; p = 0.031). Conclusions: Severe and moderate prenatal growth restriction in adults born at term leads to an altered ocular geometry, namely a steepening of the cornea and a smaller corneal diameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses a study on the postnatal environmental factors associated with corneal shaping in individuals born preterm and full-term. The study found that a longer stay in the incubator and increased time in the intensive care unit were linked to steeper corneal morphology, while postnatal temperature did not have a significant impact. The findings suggest that factors related to prematurity during incubator and ICU stays may affect corneal development. However, the study has limitations, such as being a single-center study and taking place several decades after birth. [Extracted from the article]

Background/aims To evaluate whether anterior segment anatomy and axial length are associated with prematurity and perinatal factors in adults. Methods The Gutenberg Prematurity Eye Study examined adults born preterm and term aged 18-52 years. All participants underwent a prospective ophthalmic examination (optical biometry via a LenStar 900, Haag-Streit) in Germany. The associations between gestational age (GA), birth weight (BW) and BW percentile, retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) occurrence, ROP treatment and other perinatal factors with the main outcome measures were evaluated by univariate and multivariable linear regression analyses. Main outcome measures were corneal radius, white-to-white distance, anterior chamber depth, lens thickness and axial length. Results The study involved 861 eyes of 438 preterm and full-term individuals (aged 28.6±8.7 years, 245 females,). After adjustment for age and gender, a steeper corneal radius was associated with lower GA (B=0.02; p<0.001) and a lower BW percentile (B=0.003; p<0.001). A smaller white-to-white distance was linked to lower GA (B=0.02; p<0.001), a lower BW percentile (B=0.004; p<0.001) and postnatal ROP occurrence (B=-0.26; p<0.001). Decreased axial length was associated with lower GA at birth (B=0.05; p=0.002) and pre-eclampsia (B=-0.34; p=0.015). ROP-treated eyes had a shallower anterior chamber depth (B=-0.63; p=0.001) and increased lens thickness (B=0.64, p<0.001). Conclusion Our analyses in adults demonstrate that the corneal morphology is influenced by GA and BW percentile, while the anterior chamber depth and lens thickness are affected by ROP treatment, namely laser therapy and cryotherapy. The present study highlights that perinatal factors lead to lifelong sequelae of ocular shape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Children with special health care needs (SHCN) due to a chronic health condition perform more poorly at school compared to their classmates. There is still little knowledge on the causal pathways and which factors could be targeted by interventions. We, therefore, investigated school absenteeism in children with SHCN compared to their peers. Methods: This study was based on data from the German population-based prospective cohort study ikidS (German for: I will start school). Children with SHCN were identified by the Children with Special Health Care Needs screener that captures five consequences of physical or mental chronic health conditions: (1) use or need of prescription medication, (2) above average use or need of medical, mental health, or educational services, (3) functional limitations compared with others of the same age, (4) use or need of specialized therapies, and (5) treatment or counseling for emotional, behavioral, or developmental problems. School absenteeism was defined as days absent from school due to illness during first grade and was reported by classroom teachers. Associations between SHCN consequences and school absenteeism were investigated by negative binomial regression models. Effect estimates were adjusted for confounding variables identified by a causal framework and directed acyclic graphs. Results: 1,921 children (mean age at follow-up 7.3 years, standard deviation 0.3; 49% females) were included; of these, 14% had SHCN. Compared to their classmates, children with SHCN had more days absent (adjusted rate ratio: 1.37; 95% confidence interval 1.16, 1.62). The effect was strongest among children with i) functional limitations, ii) treatment or counseling for emotional, behavioral, or developmental problems, and iii) those who experienced two or more SHCN consequences. Conclusions: Children with SHCN have higher school absenteeism, which could–at least partly–explain their poorer school performance and lower educational attainment. SHCN-specific targeted interventions may reduce the adverse effects of SHCN on educational outcomes in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]