Analysis of risk factors affecting psycho-behavioural development in children with short bowel syndrome.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to follow up the psycho-behavioural development of children with SBS and to analyse the influencing factors affecting the children's psycho-behavioural development.

Methods: Clinical information about 86 children with SBS was retrospectively collected through the hospital electronic medical record system. The ASQ-3 was used to assess the psycho-behavioural developmental outcomes of the children. Spearman's correlation coefficient, Kruskal Wallis H test, logistic regression analysis were used to find the risk factors affecting the psycho-behavioural development of the children through SPSS 27.0 statistical software.

Results: Total bilirubin level was an influencing factor in gross motor (OR = 1.013, p = 0.010) and fine motor development (OR = 1.012, p = 0.044). ALT (OR = 1.007, p = 0.041) and AST (OR = 0.995, p = 0.021) were the influencing factors of gross motor development. High direct bilirubin (OR = 1.018, p = 0.034) was a risk factor for fine motor development. The presence or absence of IFALD (OR = 5.883, p = 0.034) during hospitalisation affected children's communication development. Preservation of the ileocecal junction during surgeries was beneficial for the development of communication (OR = 0.138, p = 0.007), problem-solving (OR = 0.117, p = 0.003), and personal-socialisation (OR = 0.119, p < 0.001). Absence of sepsis (OR = 0.227, p = 0.040) was a protective factor for the personal-socialisation development of the children. Retinol-binding protein was a protective factor in the communication (OR = 0.842, p = 0.012) and personal-socialisation (OR = 0.896, p = 0.014) domains of the children.

Conclusion: Our study finds a possible association between the liver function, nutritional status, retention of the ileocecal junction during surgeries and psycho-behavioural development in children with SBS, providing recommendations for future clinical interventions and treatments.