Authors:	Hoffmann, Isabell Diefenbach, Christiane Gräf, Christine König, Jochem Schmidt, Martina F. Schnick-Vollmer, Kathleen Blettner, Maria Urschitz, Michael S.
Title:	Chronic health conditions and school performance in first graders : a prospective cohort study
Online publication date:	2-Aug-2018
Year of first publication:	2018
Language:	english
Abstract:	Objective Children with chronic health conditions may perform poorer at school. Associations may be confounded by numerous social factors. We aimed to estimate the effects of a chronic health condition on overall school performance in first graders with an emphasis on rigorous adjustment for potential confounders. Methods A population-based cohort study was performed in the area of Mainz-Bingen (Germany). In 2015 all preschoolers were approached and the presence of a chronic health condition was assessed by parental questionnaires and preschool health examination data. The identification of a chronic health condition was based on special health care needs and presence of a doctor’s diagnosis out of 24 school-relevant diseases. At the end of the first school year, overall school performance was assessed by teachers and rated on a 5-item scale ranging from -10 to 10. Results Of 3683 children approached, 2003 were enrolled. Overall school performance was available for 1462 children (51% boys). Of these, 52% suffered from a chronic health condition. Compared to children without a chronic health condition, children with special health care needs (15%) performed worse at school (adjusted mean difference: -0.95, 95% CI: [-1.55; -0.35], P = 0.002). Children with a doctor’s diagnosis but without special health care needs (37%) did not perform worse at school. The effect was further analysed considering the extent of special health care needed. Conclusions Chronic health conditions affect overall school performance early in primary school. To identify academically at-risk children, a chronic health condition identification based on special health care needs may be used.
DDC:	610 Medizin 610 Medical sciences
Institution:	Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
Department:	FB 04 Medizin
Place:	Mainz
ROR:	https://ror.org/023b0x485
DOI:	http://doi.org/10.25358/openscience-801
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hebis:77-publ-584101
Version:	Published version
Publication type:	Zeitschriftenaufsatz
License:	CC BY
Information on rights of use:	https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Journal:	PLOS ONE 13 3
Pages or article number:	e0194846
Publisher:	PLOS
Publisher place:	San Francisco, California, US
Issue date:	2018
ISSN:	1932-6203
Publisher URL:	http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0194846
Publisher DOI:	10.1371/journal.pone.0194846
Appears in collections:	JGU-Publikationen