Impact of fetal versus perinatal hypoxia on sex differences in childhood outcomes: Developmental timing matters

Michael Anastario, Carolyn M. Salafia, Garrett Fitzmaurice, Jill M. Goldstein

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: To examine how the timing of hypoxic exposure results in specific childhood outcomes and whether there is a differential effect by sex. Methods: A sample of 10,879 prospectively followed pregnancies was drawn from the Boston and Providence sites (New England, NE) of the National Collaborative Perinatal Project. Based on placental pathology, we developed and validated a measure of probable chronic placental hypoxia (CHP) and contrasted the effects of acute perinatal hypoxia on age 7 emotional, behavioral, and cognitive outcomes. Results: Perinatal hypoxia had a significant impact on multiple behavioral and cognitive outcomes in boys and girls by age 7, in contrast to probable CHP which had a differential effect on girls and boys such that there was decreased verbal IQ and increased inhibition in females alone. Conclusions: Findings underscore the importance of considering the timing of obstetric complications and offspring sex in investigations of the impact of fetal and perinatal hypoxia on offspring's outcomes throughout the life course.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)455-464
Number of pages10
JournalSocial Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
Volume47
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2012
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Fetal hypoxia
  • Fetal programming
  • Inhibition
  • Sex differences

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Epidemiology
  • Health(social science)
  • Social Psychology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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