Effect measures and Synthesis methods
We used the extracted data to calculate the percentage of children with
DCD in each sample, and this estimate’s 95% confidence interval (CI).
Random effects models were used due to the presumed variance in effect
sizes extracted from each study. Data analysis for the prevalence of DCD
in preterm, the prevalence considering categorization of prematurity,
and considering assessment tools and different cut-off criteria for DCD,
were performed on Excel, using a spreadsheet developed by Neyeloff,
Funchs & Moreira (2012).16 Categorization of
prematurity was considered according to World Health Organization
(WHO);17 preterm children are those who were born
alive before 37 weeks of gestation. The sub-categories based on
gestational age: extremely preterm (< 28 weeks), very preterm
(28 to 32 weeks), and moderate to late preterm (32 to 37
weeks).17
Data analysis for comparison between preterm and full-term groups was
conducted using Review Manager Software 5.4. Random effects models and
risk ratio were used. Data analysis for comparison between preterm and
full-term groups was also conducted considering categorization of
prematurity, and considering assessment tools and different cut-off
criteria for DCD. The full-term group was recruited from those studies
that presented results for this population. Heterogeneity among studies
was evaluated using the I2 statistic with low,
moderate, and high I2 values of 25%, 50%, and 75%
respectively.18
We analyzed the most restricted cut-off criteria from studies that
considered more than one cut-off criteria. When there was more than one
time point assessment, we considered the one with larger sample size.