Key result
Fetal heart rate variability at or after 28 weeks gestation was significantly associated with mental and psychomotor development at 2 years and language ability at 2.5 years.
Why the study?
Does fetal heart rate variability predict developmental outcomes in early childhood?
Population
137 fetuses measured longitudinally from 20 through 38 weeks gestation, with follow-up at age 2 and 2.5
Design
Cohort
Follow-up
Up to 2.5 years of age
Authors
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Fetal HRV may flag early developmental risk; hypothesis-generating and should not yet change practice.
Cohort (n=137)
Does fetal heart rate variability predict developmental outcomes in early childhood?
Fetal heart rate variability during gestation is associated with cognitive and language development in early childhood, suggesting early origins of autonomic control differences.
DiPietro et al. (2007) conducted a cohort in Fetal and early childhood development (n=137). Fetal heart rate and variability was evaluated on Mental and psychomotor development at 2 years and language ability at 2.5 years. Fetal heart rate variability at or after 28 weeks gestation was significantly associated with mental and psychomotor development at 2 years and language ability at 2.5 years.
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