The Microcephaly Epidemic Research Group Paediatric Cohort (MERG-PC): A Cohort Profile

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Health
• Epidemiology
• Virology

Background:

• The Zika virus epidemic in Pernambuco, Brazil, led to a significant increase in microcephaly cases.
• Understanding the long-term effects of congenital Zika virus infection (CZS) is critical for affected children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the ongoing follow-up of the Microcephaly Epidemic Research Group Paediatric Cohort (MERG-PC).
• To detail the study's context, aims, population, methodology, and key findings regarding children affected by Zika virus.

Main Methods:

• Recruitment of children from four groups (Outpatient, Case-Control, Pregnant Women, Control) at different epidemic stages.
• Comprehensive clinical, laboratory, and imaging assessments by specialists at regular intervals (3, 6, 12, 18 months, and annually thereafter).
• Baseline assessments conducted at birth or first evaluation, with a total of 711 children in the initial cohort (born 2015-2019).

Main Results:

• At baseline, 32.6% of children (excluding controls) had microcephaly, 47% had physical abnormalities, 29.5% had neurological abnormalities, and 46.2% had ophthalmological abnormalities.
• The cohort has provided data on paediatric neurodevelopment, epilepsy, oropharyngeal dysphagia, cryptorchidism, endocrine dysfunction, and adenoid hypertrophy in children with Zika-related microcephaly.
• Harmonization of study protocols facilitated the formation of the Zika Brazilian Cohorts Consortium.

Conclusions:

• The MERG-PC cohort is vital for understanding the spectrum of congenital Zika syndrome (CZS).
• Ongoing research contributes essential knowledge on the multifaceted health impacts of prenatal Zika virus exposure.
• The collaborative consortium enhances research capacity for ZIKV-related studies in Brazil.