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Maternal obesity and increased risk for autism and developmental delay among very preterm infants

L C Reynolds1, T E Inder2, J J Neil3

  • 11] Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA [2] Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA.

Journal of Perinatology : Official Journal of the California Perinatal Association
|May 10, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Maternal obesity in women delivering very preterm infants was linked to increased autism risk and lower language scores in children at age 2. This highlights the need for targeted surveillance in high-risk pregnancies.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Maternal obesity affects 35% of women of child-bearing age.
  • Maternal obesity may increase risks for adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes.
  • Limited research exists on maternal obesity and neurodevelopment in preterm infants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between maternal obesity and neurodevelopmental outcomes in very preterm children at 2 years of age.
  • To determine if maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index is associated with neurodevelopmental differences in offspring born preterm.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective cohort study of 62 maternal/infant dyads born at or before 30 weeks gestation.
  • Mothers classified as obese or non-obese based on pre-pregnancy BMI.
  • Infants assessed with MRI at term equivalent and developmental testing at age 2.

Main Results:

  • Maternal obesity was significantly associated with a positive screen for autism (OR=9.88, P=0.002).
  • Maternal obesity correlated with lower composite language scores (β=-9.36, P=0.002).

Conclusions:

  • Maternal obesity is linked to adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in very preterm children at age 2.
  • Findings suggest a need for targeted surveillance of infants born to obese mothers.
  • Further research is required to replicate these findings.
Abstract

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