Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Children Born to Mothers Infected with SARS-CoV-2 During Pregnancy: A Narrative Review

Background: The potential impact of maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy on the neurodevelopment of offspring has raised considerable concern. Emerging studies have evaluated various developmental domains in exposed infants, yet findings remain inconsistent. Objective: To synthesize current evidence regarding neurodevelopmental outcomes in infants born to mothers with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy. Methods: We conducted a narrative review following PRISMA guidelines. A literature search was performed in PubMed, Cochrane, and ScienceDirect using keywords including "COVID-19", "pregnancy", "neurodevelopment", and "SARS-CoV-2". Nineteen studies were included. Data were extracted regarding study design, sample size, timing of exposure, age at assessment, developmental tools used, and key findings. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Results: Among 19 included studies, 12 reported at least some neurodevelopmental delays, particularly in motor and language domains. However, these delays were generally mild, domain-specific, and often not statistically significant. Seven studies, most of which were high-quality and low-risk, reported no significant differences between exposed and unexposed groups. Assessment tools and follow-up durations varied widely, limiting comparability. Conclusions: Current evidence does not support a consistent association between in utero SARS-CoV-2 exposure and an unfavorable neurodevelopmental outcome up to 24 months. However, heterogeneity in methods and short-term follow-up warrant further high-quality longitudinal research.