Background Children born very preterm (VPT) are at high risk for attention problems. This study’s purpose was to describe the Conners Kiddie Continuous Performance Test (K-CPT) assessment in children born VPT, including rates of clinically elevated scores, change over time, and associations between K-CPT scores and parent reported attention problems. Methods We studied 305 children from a multi-site study of children born VPT who completed at least one K-CPT assessment at age 5, 6, and/or 7 years. Parent-reported ADHD symptoms and diagnosis were also collected. We calculated K-CPT completion rates, mean scores, and rates of clinically elevated scores at each timepoint. Linear mixed models examined change over time in K-CPT scores. Correlations and generalized linear models investigated associations between K-CPT scores and ADHD symptoms and diagnoses. Results K-CPT scores showed expected age-related improvements from age 5–7, with significant intra- and inter-individual variability. Up to 1/3 of children had clinically elevated attention problems and another 1/3 had subclinical elevations. K-CPT scores were modestly correlated with parent-rated ADHD symptoms and children with a parent-reported ADHD diagnosis performed worse on nearly all K-CPT metrics. Conclusion Performance-based measures like the K-CPT can be useful for research and clinical practice in VPT populations. Impact <UnorderedList Mark="Bullet"> <ItemContent> Attention problems are a specific area of weakness for children born very preterm. </ItemContent> <ItemContent> Performance-based tests of attention have benefits and drawbacks compared to parent report measures yet are understudied in this population. </ItemContent> <ItemContent> We examined one performance-based measure (the Conners Kiddie Continuous Performance Test [K-CPT]) in 305 children born very preterm. </ItemContent> <ItemContent> We observed improving task scores from age 5–7 years with significant intra- and inter-individual variability, a sizable proportion of children with clinically and subclinically elevated scores, and modest associations between K-CPT scores and parent reported attention problems. </ItemContent> <ItemContent> The K-CPT could be a useful clinical and research tool in this population. </ItemContent> </UnorderedList>

Attention problems in children born very preterm: evidence from a performance-based measure

期刊论文
发表日期：

2025年4月9日

查看全文

Marie Camerota,
Francisco Xavier Castellanos,
Brian S. Carter,
Jennifer Check,
Jennifer Helderman,
Julie A. Hofheimer,
Elisabeth C. McGowan,
Charles R. Neal,
Steven L. Pastyrnak,
Lynne M. Smith,
Thomas Michael O’Shea,
Carmen J. Marsit,
Barry M. Lester

摘要

Background

Children born very preterm (VPT) are at high risk for attention problems. This study’s purpose was to describe the Conners Kiddie Continuous Performance Test (K-CPT) assessment in children born VPT, including rates of clinically elevated scores, change over time, and associations between K-CPT scores and parent reported attention problems.

Methods

We studied 305 children from a multi-site study of children born VPT who completed at least one K-CPT assessment at age 5, 6, and/or 7 years. Parent-reported ADHD symptoms and diagnosis were also collected. We calculated K-CPT completion rates, mean scores, and rates of clinically elevated scores at each timepoint. Linear mixed models examined change over time in K-CPT scores. Correlations and generalized linear models investigated associations between K-CPT scores and ADHD symptoms and diagnoses.

Results

K-CPT scores showed expected age-related improvements from age 5–7, with significant intra- and inter-individual variability. Up to 1/3 of children had clinically elevated attention problems and another 1/3 had subclinical elevations. K-CPT scores were modestly correlated with parent-rated ADHD symptoms and children with a parent-reported ADHD diagnosis performed worse on nearly all K-CPT metrics.

Conclusion

Performance-based measures like the K-CPT can be useful for research and clinical practice in VPT populations.

Impact

Attention problems are a specific area of weakness for children born very preterm.

Performance-based tests of attention have benefits and drawbacks compared to parent report measures yet are understudied in this population.

We examined one performance-based measure (the Conners Kiddie Continuous Performance Test [K-CPT]) in 305 children born very preterm.

We observed improving task scores from age 5–7 years with significant intra- and inter-individual variability, a sizable proportion of children with clinically and subclinically elevated scores, and modest associations between K-CPT scores and parent reported attention problems.

The K-CPT could be a useful clinical and research tool in this population.