Cognitive development following ART: effect of choice of comparison group confounding and mediating factors

摘要

BACKGROUNDEpidemiological studies have examined the health of children born after assisted reproductive technology (ART), with contradictory results. In this article, we address the question ‘Do singletons born after ART have a poorer cognitive developmental outcome at 3 years of age?’ We assess the implications of using different comparison groups, and discuss appropriate analytical approaches for the control of confounding and mediating variables.