Physical development of infants born to patients with COVID-19 during pregnancy: 2 years of age

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Anna Eligulashvili1, Moshe Gordon1, Sheri Nemerofsky2

  • 1Radiology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Morris Park, NY, United States.

Peerj
|November 18, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Infants born during the pandemic to mothers with SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) showed no developmental differences compared to infants born to uninfected mothers. However, pandemic infants had poorer perinatal outcomes than pre-pandemic infants.

Area of Science:

  • Perinatal Health
  • Pediatric Development
  • Infectious Disease Epidemiology

Background:

  • Pregnancy with SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) and pandemic conditions may impact infant development.
  • This study investigated infant development, illness incidence, and healthcare use in the first two years of life.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the physical development, illness rates, and healthcare utilization of infants born to COVID-19 positive and negative mothers during the pandemic.
  • To compare these outcomes with infants born before the pandemic.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective observational study at a major academic health system in New York City.
  • Included infants born to SARS-CoV-2 positive (COVID+) and negative (COVID-) birthing persons during the pandemic (March 2020 - August 2022).
  • Included infants born pre-pandemic (March 2017 - August 2019) for comparison.

Main Results:

  • No significant differences in weight, length, or head circumference curves between pandemic infants born to COVID+ and COVID- mothers.
  • Pandemic infants (both groups) showed reduced length from birth to 9 months compared to pre-pandemic infants.
  • Pandemic infants had adverse perinatal outcomes: increased stillbirth, decreased gestational age, birth weight, and birth length compared to pre-pandemic infants.

Conclusions:

  • Birthing person's SARS-CoV-2 status and pandemic circumstances negatively affected perinatal outcomes and newborn development.
  • Clinical attention is needed to monitor infants closely and implement enrichment strategies for optimal development.
Abstract

Keywords:
Infant developmentMaternal SARS-CoV-2 infectionPerinatal outcomesin utero COVID-19 exposure

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