Cognition and behaviour of children born to mothers with an underactive thyroid; data from the controlled antenatal thyroid screening study

Hales, Charlotte ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8638-6626 2016. Cognition and behaviour of children born to mothers with an underactive thyroid; data from the controlled antenatal thyroid screening study. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University. Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

Background and aims Underactive thyroid function during pregnancy and its effects on offspring intelligence, general cognition and behaviour have long been researched and reported on. Some of the differences found for the offspring are so apparent, that is has warranted authors to suggest universal thyroid function screening during pregnancy. The current study was the world’s first randomised controlled trial to investigate the effects of treatment for suboptimal gestational thyroid function (SGTF) on offspring. The aims of this thesis are, 1) to re-analyse the intelligence scores for the offspring at age 3 years, 2) to clarify any SGTF effects by cognitive testing and behavioural questionnaires completed at offspring age 9, and 3) compare and contrast wave one and two findings. Methods and analysis 1) Data was previously collected for this analysis. Treated and untreated SGTF groups were compared by unadjusted and adjusted models. 2) I conducted the intelligence, additional cognitive testing, and collection of the completed behavioural questionnaires. All data were analysed separately (per chapter) by multivariate analysis models. 3) Comparison of intelligence results were explored by correlations and a repeated measures multivariate analysis. Results and conclusions Re-analysis of the age 3 intelligence scores revealed that the untreated SGTF group performed worse compared to the treated SGTF group (p = .008 for scores below 85). No age 9 differences in intelligence or additional cognitive tests were found. The behavioural questionnaires revealed that treatment for SGTF may have had a detrimental effect for the offspring. Intelligence score comparisons revealed no differences between the groups. These results suggest that any intelligence effects from the mother not being treated for SGTF may be present at age 3 but have disappeared by age 9. However, treatment for SGTF appeared to significantly increase behaviour problems for offspring at age 9; though not clinically significant.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Date Type:	Completion
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Medicine
Subjects:	R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	19 May 2016
Last Modified:	01 Nov 2022 10:19
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/91004

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